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Title: Looking at the Theatre with a Different Lens
Review: I am reminded of the old story that a man who only has a hammer sees every problem as a nail. When you view the American musical theater through a lesbian lens you come up with some decidedly different views of Maria in the Sound of Music. Professor Wolf concentrates her study on four actresses of the 50's and early 60's: Mary Martin as Nellie in 'South Pacific,' Ethel Merman as Momma Rose in 'Gypsy,' Julie Andrews in 'My Fair Lady' and Guenevere in 'Camelot,' and Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in 'Funny Girl.' Obviously she finds lesbian tendancies in these performances, and her analysis is most interesting to follow.The musical theatre scene is constantly changing. I would be most interested in her analysis of more current plays such as Les Miz, Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked -- where the two female leads are friends, but in which I do not see lesbian tendancies or messages. Can't two women just be friends?
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