A TENDER THING

Not only does author/narrator Emily Neuberger offer an agile, entertaining performance, she also sings snippets of lyrics in a lovely soprano. Neuberger delivers us into the 1950s New York musical theater scene. A Wisconsin girl with a gorgeous voice, Eleanor, comes to Broadway with stardust in her eyes. In record time, she's cast in a new musical written by famed composer/playwright Don Manheim. The musical, "A Tender Thing," is a love story between a Black man and a white woman. Neuberger explores more than the nitty-gritty of creating a Broadway hit; she also delves into deep-seated prejudices, behind-the-scenes manipulations, backbreaking rehearsals and rewrites, romance, and backstage terror and exhilaration. While the real world may tamp down her sparkle, Neuberger lets us know that Eleanor will survive without losing her shine. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2020]