The old dilemma

Art vs. money, or as JRR Tolkien phrased it, cash or kudos. Charles Isherwood has written a great critique of Billy Elliot the musical, now on Broadway. If you don't know, this has music by Elton John, was/is a smash hit in London and now ditto in NYC. But Isherwood beautifully sums up the inevitable artistic flaws of a Big Broadway Piece that simply can't resist giving the audience what it expects. If I ever get to teach on Broadway musicals, as I would very much like to, this will be required reading.