No, he doesn't care about theatre at all. He made that clear in a TV interview he did on Breakfast with the Arts a few years ago when asked why he didn't review shows. (I suspect the main reason is that nobody ever asked him to write reviews. I also got the sense that he doesn't want to be bothered seeing a show and then having to create a 1000-word assessment of it pointing out the strengths and weaknesses and helping readers decide whether it is worth seeing ...or not.)
What he is trying to be a is a modern-day Walter Winchell, but he lacks Winchell's superb writing skills. M.R. has tapped into the Post reader's thirst for sensationalism and melded that with his theatre coverage. It is cheap exploitation for Broadway producers who leak him insider's gossip (hoping that a negative piece on his page will stir up interest in their show.)
He loves to pick on weak or struggling shows so he can gloat when they close quickly. (Remember his early preview reports on SPIDERMAN?) He wishes he had the power of a New York Times reviewer to close down shows he doesn't like but he doesn't have the knowledge, interest or skills needed to write a proper review, so he goes for backstage gossip.
Notice how every time he writes a really bitchy column everyone rushes to be the first to post a link to it on BWW? By doing that it just gives the man the power he craves.
Many people who post here on BWW do the same thing but generally do it in a far more entertaining way with much more eloquence.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
