Gee CU aa) Sondheim's Post-modern Reinvention Robert McLaughlin's study is aimed at the academic market secre Mine {Le many Steshen Sondheim fns, author ober L. McLaurin iscovred Sondheim's musical wotk when be feunéa cist bum (inhis case, Company atthe brary whilein Fgh school. MeLaugHlin,nowan English professor a limos State Univesity, was inspired te actin colegeanébeyona because of is interest in Sondheim: Seventeen years after my ast college performance, afer eamirg my graduate depres, termovng to centre lino after pete much eneunng my sure | actioned for acl community esters prosucton ot Lite signe est singly because Fd neverhaathe chance tein z and for Steshen Sondheim’ werds and music have neve: been ar inthe background. Infac, over he years ve thought mow and mare bout ‘he connctens between the two ~postmader literature and onthe’ wor.” cLaughin'snev volume, Stephen Sendhsimand the Reiverton ofthe Amescan Misical Univesity Press of [Nizsisipai), «an attemp! to nterretSondhein’'s carer trough postmacernanaysi The Bookie heey en Jargon, bu ko on insight into why Sndheim's musical continueto resonate (of Company, regarded asthe frst “cocept musical” NeLaughln rote: that itsseeningly plotless soryisa tullmarkof postmodernisn: “To escape tealiing narrative suuctre,oexcapeit even incompletely orat east to escapeits clans te absolute rath, sa kindof lberaion. I gives usthecriteal stance we reedto examine ‘e bse tor eur culture's esumprions ane belts. ots us te porsily of aecoveingcitarenc ia ot Snowleage, meaning and nays ofbeng . Mary ofthesceses an ongs could be pu ro aaieent acer ‘wusthan ofa Redgerrand-Hammentsn-csle book musical what Sndbeim ell vilght.cone revue”“MeLaughlie wrts thatthe ivesubsequent Sondheim Maeld Prince colboratios,“cincding with the high point ot cuturs pexmagemism . fomalir ana thematic ren covn conventional epiemoloncs sytens and open up new posses or meaning Mesingles Ou young and ald yetsons a2 carat sinutanebust onstage in Folie endPacife Oertaresas warps of postmodern herria. “MeLaughls hes lety done his homework Herbie offhand rematk in Gypy that Roce looked lik = ionser woman without font lend toa bef expsnation of Ith canury historian Fede acison Turner {roster thsi His Into he Woods ana acknowledge the well-documentod pl Brana Betis The Uses of nchanement ha upon the pet but MeLaughtin ako discussesthe musicals debt to French sichoenalist lacques Lacan ans theorieson child psvchology McLzuglin introduces Lacan's Law of he Father in which “tel cilére’ relationships with he motherisiaterupte by the prserce the father, who brings mules ané codes that they must earnto lve, limiting Freecom and encouraging social contort” “MeLaughle then describeshow thesong“Gianss inthe Sky" Hlustatestha:tersiot: licks et anbivaler, ishing he’ could lve in benveen’ he realm ofthe giants and hom, childhood and adithon, the bachward- looking nartive of dese for rast holistic unity andthe forward-moving narrative dste forthe ice” ‘The Book cose: with McLaughin bey evaluatingcontemporary,non-Sordheim musicals through 2 postmaser las, prin te way slet-century ite suena The Aroauers, te of2now ana Spamaloruee Set efreralalabgue ad songs foreas laughs? while or stows incudng Sovig Avatening ant ‘Mamiton mae sarting we frm [ringing] popular contemporary music to bea on historical bic” As opgeredta genera ntesetSonthesm book: by Creg Zadar [atone Gvdon or Marin Gotthied Seren 2 andar ote undetgratune at graduate hasan cuter Anphod casings ee recounting of Sondheim's musical orthestrclanecotesislitely tobe disapointed, However, even lay audience wll aporeiate McLauelin’ ality to slace Sondheim’ work thn aarerclturl context and wil econiz the utters enthusiaen for thecubect ANDREW MILNER as been writ about Sondheim for morethar a Gcae. He eplycntrbutd tothe Phage Cin Paper rom 1955 ure scour in October 215.