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''Saravá'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by N. Richard Nash and music
Mitch Leigh Mitch Leigh (born Irwin Michnick; January 30, 1928March 16, 2014) was an American musical theatre composer and theatrical producer best known for the musical ''Man of La Mancha''. Biography Early years Leigh was born in Brooklyn, New York as I ...
. The musical was based on the book '' Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands'' by Brazilian writer
Jorge Amado Jorge Leal Amado de Faria (10 August 1912 – 6 August 2001) was a Brazilian writer of the modernist school. He remains the best known of modern Brazilian writers, with his work having been translated into some 49 languages and popularized in ...
, published in 1966.


Synopsis

Set in
Salvador Salvador, meaning " salvation" (or "saviour") in Catalan, Spanish, and Portuguese may refer to: * Salvador (name) Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Salvador (band), a Christian band that plays both English and Spanish music ** ''Salvador'' ...
,
Bahia Bahia ( , , ; meaning "bay") is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro) and the 5th-largest ...
, the musical starts with the sudden death of Dona Flor's husband, Vadinho, who collapses in the midst of Carnival celebrations. After a period of mourning, Dona Flor attracts another admirer, a local pharmacist, Teodoro. While her new husband lacks the passionate sensuality of Vadinho, he compensates by providing a life free of worry. But, on the first anniversary of her marriage, Vadinho returns. He is now a ghost, but has lost none of his old ways.


History

The musical started its try-out period at the Colonial Theatre in
Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the capital city, state capital and List of municipalities in Massachusetts, most populous city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financ ...
,
Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...
. It ran from December 25th 1978 to January 6th 1979, being cut short by a week due to poor reviews and low tickets sales. The
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
production opened at the
Mark Hellinger Theatre The Mark Hellinger Theatre (formerly the 51st Street Theatre and the Hollywood Theatre) is a church building at 237 West 51st Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, which formerly served as a cinema and a Broadway theat ...
on January 11, 1979, and moved to
Broadway Theatre Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''T ...
on March 1, 1979, where it closed after 101 performances and 38 previews. It ran for a total of 177 performances.


Original cast and characters


Song list

;Act I *"Saravá" - Vadinho, Flor and Others *"Makulelé" - Manuel, Costas, Vadinho and Arigof *"Vadhino Is Gone" - Flor *"Hosanna" - Flor and Others *"Nothing's Missing" - Teo and Flor *"Nothing's Missing" (Reprise) - Flor *"I'm Looking for a Man" - Dionisia and Others *"A Simple Man" - Teo *"Viva a Vida" - All ;Act II *"Muito Bom" - Flor, Teo and Others *"Nothing's Missing" (Reprise) - Flor and Teo *"Play the Queen" - Flor, Vadinho, Arigof and Others *"Which Way Do I Go?" - Flor *"Remember" - Vadinho *"A Simple Man" (Reprise) - Teo *"You Do" - Dionisia and Others *"A Single Life" - Vadinho *"Vadhino Is Gone" (Reprise) - Flor *"Saravá" (Reprise) - Company


Reception

The production received generally mixed reviews with the Daily News calling it "polished" but "without inner energy" and
The Journal News ''The Journal News'' is a newspaper in New York State serving the New York counties of Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam, a region known as the Lower Hudson Valley. It is owned by Gannett. ''The Journal News'' was created through a merger of ...
saying the "exotic" performance of actress
Tovah Feldshuh Terri Sue "Tovah" Feldshuh (born December 27, 1948) is an American actress, singer, and playwright. She has been a Broadway star for more than four decades, earning four Tony Award nominations. She has also received two Emmy Award nominations f ...
kept the musical running "longer than it deserved."


Awards and honors


Original Broadway production


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saravá 1979 musicals Broadway musicals Original musicals Musicals based on novels Musicals set in Brazil