The Year of Magical Thinking has jumped the shark: the New York Times reports that Joan Didion’s memoir is going to be a Broadway show.
"I think that the book is not a narrative; it’s about a state of mind,
and I think that will work well," she said of the stage possibilities.
My theater experience is limited, but I think narrative kind of works on stage. "The Producers" is a happy narrative; "The Elephant Man," a tragic narrative. Both won Tonys. Spalding Gray’s one man shows — neurotic narrative. Now picture non-narrativeTYOMT sandwiched between "Spamalot" and "Mamma Mia!"
Don’t get me wrong: I admire Joan Didion immeasurably. I adore her writing. I’ve read just about everything she’s written, including the way-stinky script of Up Close & Personal. And I will gladly be the 200,001st person to buy her new book, and I’ll enjoy it.
But Broadway? Oh god, it’ll star Meryl Streep. I can see it now.
