And then there’s Mr. Thomas’s and Mr. Lee’s proposition that a contestant-baiting TV host might be perceived by his public as someone fit to rule the world. But until “Donald Trump — The Opera” comes along (shudder), “Jerry Springer” may be the richest theatrical means we have for channeling the heaving American Id that put Mr. Trump in the White House. And there’s the nifty dividend that “Jerry Springer” also sings volumes about the enduring appeal of the musical as a popular art form. The aspirations in “Jerry Springer” are a little less classic than finding love or triumphing over adversity. What makes “Jerry Springer” shimmer so unexpectedly isn’t its satirical side, the novelty of which wears off quickly.

Source: New York Times February 23, 2018 04:24 UTC