''Saravá'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by

N. Richard Nash Nathan Richard Nusbaum (June 8, 1913 – December 11, 2000), known as N. Richard Nash, was an American writer and dramatist best known for writing Broadway shows, including '' The Rainmaker''. Early life Nash was born Nathan Richard Nusbau ...

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 Irw ...

. The musical was based on the book ''

Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands ''Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands'' ( pt, Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos) is a 1976 Brazilian comedy film directed by Bruno Barreto. Based on the 1966 novel of the same name by Jorge Amado, it takes place in 1940s Bahia and has Sônia Braga, José ...

'' 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 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (sta ...

, 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 state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

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 thea ...

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 ''Th ...

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), New York State serving the New York counties of Westchester County, New York, Westchester, Rockland County, New York, Rockland, and Putnam County, New York, Putnam, a region known as the H ...

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 fo ...

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