Salaam Bombay Dreams

The enormous popularity of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical extravaganzas partially explains the raison d'etre behind this four-hour compendium of material about his latest production, Bombay Dreams. Focusing on the original 2002 London mounting of the show--an attempt to transfer the colorful grandeur and simpleminded ebullience of Bollywood screen musicals to the stage--the greater portion of the program is a two-hour “making-of” documentary, beginning with the emergence of the concept in conversations between Webber and film director Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth, The Four Feathers) and their initial contacts with well-known Indian composer A. R. Rahman, continuing with the assembly of the creative team, fashioning of the book and score, selection of performers, and process of rehearsal and promotion, all culminating in the successful premiere and a visit by Queen Elizabeth II to a benefit performance. The most extensive additional material is a series of six interviews with members of the creative team (portions of which are also included in the documentary), to which are added six musical excerpts and an account of the shaping of one number in rehearsal. Salaam Bombay Dreams will fascinate students of backstage theatrical history, but its positive spin turns it into a virtual publicity tool--which may be useful in view of the fact that the much-retooled-for-Broadway show was poorly received in its recent New York debut and is struggling to stay open. Optional. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)