The correct title for the Sondheim-Lapine opus would be Romantic Obsession, and it wouldn't try to ingratiate itself as a depiction of what genuine love is. Passion is anything but a love story.
In recent decades, movie musicals that began as full-length animation features and original movie musicals have become multi-million dollar stage vehicles drawing audiences into theatres in cities around the world.
Of course, when songs so ebullient and/or passionate are this good, who's going to complain? Although a number of the Encores! dust-offs have moved to Broadway, this one certainly won't. Never mind, since it has enough going for it right where it is.
If the crassness of the current social, political, and economic climate has you down in the dumps, I can't recommend a lovelier, more charming, experience.
In her mid-80s, Barbara Carroll's still doing what she does best and what few others even begin to do as well as. Nowadays she does it more regularly at the Oak Room, where management is wise enough to turn the paneled room over to her every Sunday brunch.
The arts are in a parlous state, but contrary to popular belief, it isn't the fault of unions or the absence of arts education in our schools. The arts are in trouble because there is simply not enough excellent art being created.
And they said things were bad in the 70's. The dirt, the porno shops, the Disco. All that is now a fond memory for many New Yorkers who gamely braved that bit of Hades to attend a real Broadway musical.
The husband-wife team of Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano are currently doing the living-room honors in Manhattan's Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel through the first week of March.
The real, full name of the Statue of Liberty is "Liberty Enlightening the World." She wears a crown because she's a goddess championing the cause of all causes: freedom.