The New Moon
The New Moon is an operetta with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Frank Mandel and Laurence Schwab. It opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on September 19, 1928, ran for 509 performances, and closed at the Casino Theatre on December 14, 1929.
The plot concerns a French chevalier and revolutionist living in New Orleans in 1792 under an assumed named and on the run from the French authorities. The protagonist works for his love interest's father, is arrested by French monarchists, escapes and sets up house on a island with his new wife and is ultimately pardoned by the new Republican French government.
The plot is generally considered secondary to the wonderous music of Sigmund Romberg.
A 1930 film starred Grace Moore and Lawrence Tibbett and was a rework of the plot set in Russia. The 1940 film, starred Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy and remained relatively faithful to the stage work.
City Center Encores presented a semi-staged revival at City Center in New York City in March of 2003. The Encores production was presented during the run-up to the Iraq War and was the scene of a unlikely controversy when during the five performances the audience responded loudly to the line "One can be loyal to one's country while disagreeing with one's leaders" with loud applause and cheers and then boos in reaction to the cheers.
Songs
- Stouthearted Men
- Lover, Come Back to Me
- Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
- Wanting You
- One Kiss
- Marianne