Reviews: How Sondheim Can Change Your Life (1)

Looking at each of Stephen Sondheim's major works in turn, Richard Schoch draws your attention to the way the musical and lyrical genius constructs his shows and fills them with insights about life and the way the world works. I've never been a reader of self-help, and this book doesn't really fit into that genre, but nonetheless I found myself surprisingly affected by the life lessons Schoch finds in Sondheim's writing, relating to the characters and his own personal experiences. He also has a great way of explaining with specific details how theatre functions and how audiences respond to it. There are of course some fabulous backstage anecdotes and pieces of theatre history trivia that are a delight to discover.

A must-read for any Sondheim devotee, an insightful guide for aspiring writers, and a great introduction for new musical theatre fans.