The British musical in its formative years has appeared in strikingly different guises: from the lasting hits of Oliver!, and Me and My Girl, to the successes of The Dancing Years, Bless the Bride and Expresso Bongo. This authoritative study traces what made these shows successes in the West End and how their qualities define a uniquely British interpretation of the genre. Cultural, sociological and political influences entwine with close reading of the dramatic and musical elements of this repertory to reveal a fascinating web of connections and contrasts between the times, the shows and the people who made them. Through detailed case studies, such as of The Boy Friend and Bitter Sweet, the rich individuality of each West End work is spotlighted, posing vital questions and intriguing answers as to what a British musical can be. Interdisciplinary in nature, this study brings together all the core materials to discover this period in the story of the British musical. Reviewing the Situation is insightful and lively, an invaluable resource for students and scholars of musical theatre and all those theatregoers drawn to the power of these classic British shows.

The adventure continues in Room 26 with Humphrey's frog-tastic best friend, Og the Frog! Og the Frog has just moved into Room 26, and the place is hopping. There are lively kids, new routines, and a furry neighbor who seems to squeak all day. Luckily, everyone seems friendly and--BING, BANG, BOING!--some even put juicy crickets in his tank. But just as Og is getting used to this new life, there is talk of sending him back to the pond. Sure, he misses his friends, but now he has a lot more time for his favorite hobby--making up songs and poems--and he loves listening to his new friends and giving them encouraging BOINGS just when they need them. And there's that steady supply of crickets . . . Og doesn't want to say goodbye to his new life or his furry neighbor. But will his classmates decide to keep Og as their classroom pet or take him back to his old life, at the pond?

Life of Mo is a musical satire based on the life of the Prophet Mohammed. These explanatory notes, which include the full text of Life of Mo, attempt to determine the sources of the play's material, and offer further explanatory notes regarding the themes and ideas raised in the play. Superficially, Life of Mo is a musical fantasy romp, combining stories with re-writes of songs by popular artists like Dolly Parton, Freddy Mercury, Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, Led Zeppelin, Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman and others. But Life of Mo has a deeper grounding, and its sources include original texts (the Qur'an, ahadith, and Bible), and commentaries by writers like William Muir, Robert Spencer, Ali Dashti and Ali Sina. In addition, the writer has also used Internet sources, like Wikipedia, YouTube and Reddit. CF Hibbot's Notes and Commentary to Jock's Life of Mo traces through the humour and the tragedy to render a deeper appreciation and understanding of the play and the subject matter covered.