Some Enchanted Evenings

May 9, 2016
Theater critic Kaufman (Doris Day: The Untold Story of the Girl Next Door) continues in his theatrical biography niche with arguably the most exhaustively researched treatise ever compiled regarding Broadway and Hollywood legend Mary Martin, best known for originating roles in South Pacific and The Sound of Music. Kaufman’s tome begins in Martin’s teens, as he struggles to find the truth of Martin’s marriage to Ben Hagman in conflicting accounts from Martin’s family, friends, and notoriously unreliable autobiography. The sense of uncertainty persists as Kaufman drops hints about Martin’s widely rumored romantic relationship with close friend and fellow actor Janet Gaynor, noting her early choices in queer-oriented reading materials and the duo’s latter-day intimate friendship. At times, Kaufman’s propensity for denseness and frequent asides into backstage networking make his prose too dry for any but the most scholarly of theatre buffs. Still, insights into the changing nature of Broadway over the course of Martin’s lengthy career make this an intriguing read for those interested in charting such histories, and Martin stands as an essential touchstone for those who came after.

This somewhat plodding biography uses detailed anecdotes to flesh out actress Mary Martin's enigmatic and capricious personality. Bernadette Dunne's narration is soft, understated, and controlled. Both Martin's marriages are examined at some length. Her marriage to the crass Ben Hagman produced son Larry Hagman, who played television's J.R. Ewing on "Dallas". Insights are provided for Martin's lack of great success in films and her very great success in both Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway vehicles. Her roles in the Broadway and television versions of the musical PETER PAN are mined for many behind-the-scenes insights. Dunne's narration reflects an entirely different period and style in American musical theater. Those who remember that time will enjoy returning; students of that era will be enlightened. W.A.G. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine