简介：WhoopiGoldberg,starofGhostandTheColorPurple,madeherfirstsplashoff-Broadwaywithaone-womanshowofvividcharacterscalledTheSpookShow--atitledroppedwhentheshowtransferredtoBroadwayproper,whichwasthenturnedintoaTVspecialcalledDirectFromBroadwayin1985.TwentyyearslatersherevisitssomeofthesecharactersinBacktoBroadway,suchasthesharp-tonguedjunkieFontaine--whosoundsoffonawholespectrumofcontemporarypoliticalissues,makingthisasmuchastand-upcomedyroutineasacharactermonologue.Whoopi:BacktoBroadwayalsoincludesDirectFromBroadwayandthecontrastbetweenWhoopi'syoung,hungryselfandthesupremelyconfidentselfof2005isfascinating,asarethetwodifferentversionsshepresentsofacharactercalledonlytheCripple--aphysicallydisabledwomanwhofindsherselfresistingtheaffectionsofamanwhofallsinlovewithher.Thedifferencesarenotassimpleasyouthfuldynamismvs.emotionalmaturity;theearlyperformancesfocusonthecharacters,whileinthe2005showthecharactersaremoreofachannelthroughwhichWhoopiprojectsherself.Herappealliesnotsomuchintheoriginalityofherobservations--littleshesayswillsurpriseanyoneofaliberalpersuasion--butinheremotionalconviction.ShespeakswhatshebelievestobetheTruth-with-a-capital-T,yetneverseemspreachyordidactic.That--combinedwithhercomictimingandsheercharisma--makesfortworich,rewardingevenings.--BretFetzer…