Farewell, Hugh and Caroline: Closing-Night Hysteria and Tears

If you want to understand the nature of public hysteria, go to the last performance of a successful Broadway show. These emotional, fond farewells—expressions of love and communion—are unique to New York.

In London, nobody bothers much about closing nights. In London, nobody bothers much about anything. But here, where enthusiasm is innate, people want Read More

Shattered Glass Is Quietly Shocking

If it’s a civics lesson you need, you can forget about the idiotic Runaway Jury , and you won’t learn a thing from the deadly Elephant . The film that will teach you something about ethics gone awry, and the souring of the American dream in the rapidly disintegrating world of journalism, is Shattered Glass Read More

Jackman Triumphs Arm in Arm With Camp and Kitsch

It’s a pleasure to report how terrific Hugh Jackman’s performance is in The Boy From Oz. Very rarely, perhaps once or twice if we’re very lucky, certain supreme musical stars are embraced absolutely by an audience. Mr. Jackman is one of them. He stops the show, and no wonder. From start to blazing finish, the Read More