cover image Showtune: A Memoir by Jerry Herman

Showtune: A Memoir by Jerry Herman

Jerry Herman. Dutton Books, $24.95 (288pp) ISBN 978-1-55611-502-8

In the introduction to his autobiography, Herman explains: ""This book is really about my romance with the showtune."" And when the composer of such musical comedy blockbusters as Hello Dolly and Mame sticks to his stated topic, the reading is lively, fun and full of backstage dish. Herman's theatrical knowledge and glimpses (he offers some astute takes on the changing world of Broadway) behind the scenes will no doubt fascinate musical comedy buffs--Judy Garland was the top contender to replace Angela Lansbury in Mame but was vetoed because of her unreliability stemming from drinking and drug problems. But what starts out as an effervescent, golly-gee attitude soon becomes cloying, and the gossip ultimately seems like name-dropping intended to impress: ""Carol Channing was my best pal""; ""Annie [Ann Miller] is a good sport and we became quite friendly. We always catch up when we run into each other at opening nights."" Cliches overtake the occasional insights, and Herman's often simplistic solutions to setbacks will strain readers' patience (""In a case like that, you just shrug your shoulders and say: `That was not meant to be.' And you walk away""). While there's no denying Herman's impressive contributions to the musical theater, some readers may feel, after wading through a surfeit of self-congratulatory prose, that this composer/lyricist's professed romance is, at least in part, with himself. Illustrations. (Nov.)