I don't think it's fair to compare musical theatre to doctors, since their jobs involve saving lives.
I do see your point though. Maybe a person should not criticize their entire profession. However, I think that he has the right to say what he thinks of musical theatre. And I don't think he praised himself.
Obviously when names are named, then people's feelings get hurt. I don't think that was the intention.
Anyhow it's not about agreeing or disagreeing with the points. Like I said, I think that there are many kinds of musicals that are good. But it is an interesting point to consider feel good musicals vs thought provoking ones.
Jennifer - please note that DR Elmore specifically mentioned a plastic surgeon and his/her artistic sensibilites. Except in rare cases, I don't think plastic surgeons actually save lives. They may save a person's mental health, but in a different sense, composers, lyricists, choreographers, directors and performers are all capable of that, as well.
For Mr. LaChuisa to go through and make comments, both generic and specific, about other writer's works, he is in effect implying that his work does not suffer from the foibles of his colleagues.
And honestly, I'm not sure there's any kind of intent other than hurtful, spiteful intent in that article. You do not call out the shortcomings of your colleagues works, naming them by name, point by point, if you do not intend to make a major point. By doing so, I think Mr. LaChuisa may find that he has alienated himself from the very community of which he claims to wish to be a part.
One has to ask, who is he to think he can point out what's wrong with what everyone else's writing? If he knows how to "save" musical theatre from immenent death and destruction, then perhaps he should busy himself with writing "real musicals" rather than scathing articles in Opera News.
