Margo Erme

The song Anna Held sings is suggestive but because she is dressed so chastely (only face and hands exposed) and is essentially skipping like a little girl with that lilting voice, it takes on a playful aspect. (Picture if Madeline Kahn had sung the same song in Blazing Saddles!). This era depicted by this movie was pre-Depression so overlooking the economic issues may be forgiven; it may be playing on nostalgia for times past "when life was much better" (people tend to have selective memory about "the good ol' days").

Many people look at musicals as entertainment or escapism and not "serious" but I think they overlook the themes and lessons that are contained in the musicals, either explicitly or implicitly. The lessons may be subtle but they can be found. Musicals I never tire of are Singing in the Rain, Caberet, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (because I remember how one of my brothers and I would vigorously dance to it), The Producers, and Bye Bye Birdie. If I can catch it on stage, I will not miss seeing Pippin.