The Cat and the Fiddle (musical)

The Cat and the Fiddle is a musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Otto Harbach. It premiered on Broadway in 1931.

Synopsis:

The story revolves around a tempestuous romance between a classical composer and a popular American jazz musician. Shirley Sheridan, an American music student, is studying in Brussels and is immediately attracted to Victor Florescu, a Roumanian composer of serious music. Victor, in turn, is fascinated by Shirley's modern, jazz-infused sensibilities. Their differences in musical style and personality lead to both collaboration and conflict as they attempt to write a new operetta together. The narrative follows the ups and downs of their creative partnership and romantic relationship, culminating in a resolution that involves compromise and understanding.

Productions:

The musical premiered on Broadway at the Globe Theatre on October 15, 1931, and ran for 395 performances. The original production starred Bettina Hall as Shirley Sheridan and Georges Metaxa as Victor Florescu. The show was noted for its innovative use of integrated music and dance, reflecting the merging of classical and popular styles central to the plot.

Notable Songs:

The musical contains several popular songs, including:

• "She Didn't Say Yes"
• "The Night Was Made for Love"
• "Try to Forget"
• "One Moment Alone"

Film Adaptation:

The Cat and the Fiddle was adapted into a film in 1934 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The film version starred Ramon Novarro and Jeanette MacDonald, and although it retained some of the musical's songs, it significantly altered the plot and characters. The film was one of the first musicals to be filmed in three-strip Technicolor.

Reception:

The original stage production was a critical and commercial success, establishing Jerome Kern as a leading figure in American musical theatre. The musical was praised for its sophisticated score, its romantic story, and its insightful exploration of the tension between classical and popular music. While the film adaptation was also popular, it is generally considered less faithful to the original stage production than some other musical adaptations of the era.