Re: A Revitalized Toronto Pins Its Hopes on the Hobbits: NYT
"Ragtime" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (with a triumphant Brent Carver) also debuted in T.O., along with a major revival of "Showboat" which were all products of the Drabinsky empire and which were all Broadway/Tony-bound, and which in part explains the reputation this city once had as an important centre for theatre (commercial theatre, at least).
Although this article is annoying and slightly inaccurate - "Wicked" left because it was prescheduled to leave, but is being brought back this fall precisely because of high demand in the city - it does point out some home truths: This city did languish for well over a decade while many large American cities, like Chicago, were reinventing themselves and sprucing themselves up. This has been discussed here time and time and again: shoddy and banal architecture, decaying public infrastructure, lack of urban planning or vision, and a generally neglected urban fabric. Accordingly, perceptions have also changed drastically since the 80s when T.O. was seen as 'safe' and 'clean' while the American cities - NYC included - were perceived as dangerous and dirty. For many years Toronto has allowed its problems with violence, homelessness and general urban decay to fester to a point where those old perceptions seem like distant memories now, and may not even be within memory for a generation of new tourists.
Lets face it, when you're in the big leagues people are going to take shots. No problem. These shots may sting a little, not because of the article's ignorance, but rather because of its insight.
