Lorenz Hart: A Poet on Broadway

In this engaging biography, Nolan (Rodgers and Hammerstein: The Sound of Their Music) presents an affecting portrayal of the man who teamed up with Richard Rodgers to write A Connecticut Yankee, Pal Joey, On Your Toes and many other successful musical comedies. Hart, who was barely five feet tall, disorganized, homosexual, irresponsible and infinitely witty and charming-the opposite of the conventional and reserved Rodgers-was a genius with words who could transform and revitalize the commercial song lyric. Nevetheless, low self-esteem and a self-destructive tendency colored his life, causing his friend Mabel Mercer to describe him as ``the saddest man I ever knew.'' Eventually his erratic behavior broke up his partnership with Rodgers, who began collaborating instead with Oscar Hammerstein. Hart, dissipated and weakened by alcoholism, died in 1943 at the age of 48, leaving behind a legacy of hundreds of wonderful songs such as ``Ten Cents a Dance,'' ``My Funny Valentine'' and ``My Heart Stood Still.'' Nolan vividly captures the personality of this talented and unstable man, as well as the spirit of the entertainment world. Photos not seen by PW. (Sept.)