The Girl in Pink Tights (1954 Original Broadway Cast)
Composer Sigmund Romberg is best known for the operettas he wrote in the early 20th century. While you may not know his name, there's a good chance you¹ve heard at least parts ofThe Desert SongorThe Student Princeif you're a fan of musical theater. But withThe Girl in Pink Tights, Romberg strayed from the style that made him famous and explored a more Cole Porterish va-va-voom vein. Indeed, parts of the show are reminiscent of 1953'sCan-Can, which isn't too surprising, since--likeCan-Can's Lilo--The Girl in Pink Tightsstarred a strongly accented French actor, [Zizi] Jeanmaire. Granted, the team of Romberg and lyricist Leo Robin (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) didn't possess Porter's wit and melodic sense, but they still came up with a deliciously silly Parisian soufflé of a show--even if it was set in 19th-century New York. Note that Romberg died without finishing the score, which was completed by orchestrator Don Walker.--Elisabeth Vincentelli