Diary of a Mad Playwright : Perilous Adventures on the Road with Mary Martin & Carol Channing

(Applause Books). Kirkwood, the co-writer of the book of the great musical A Chorus Line , also wrote the stage play Legends , for which Carol Channing and Mary Martin embarked on a nationwide, bound-for-Broadway tour. This book chronicles the slow disintigration of the whole project, thanks to bickering divas, greedy producers, hostile reviewers, and general chaos. Kirkwood's fine eye for detail and general good humor keep this book lighhearted and funny, even as sadness lingers in the wings. A wonderful book for anyone who loves the theatre.