Composer

:

Cole Porter

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1932

First Performance

:

Nov 29, 1932

Gay Divorce is a musical comedy composed by Cole Porter, with a book by Dwight Taylor and music and lyrics by Porter. The musical premiered on Broadway on November 29, 1932, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and ran for 248 performances. The plot revolves around a British nobleman, Guy Holden, who travels to Paris to obtain a divorce from his wife, but ends up falling in love with a young American woman, Mimi. The musical is divided into two acts, with a total of 16 musical numbers. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the plot, while the second act focuses on the resolution of the story. The musical features several memorable songs, including "Night and Day," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "After You, Who?" The movements of the musical are typical of a Broadway musical of the time, with a mix of dialogue, song, and dance. The musical features several dance numbers, including a tango and a waltz, which were choreographed by Busby Berkeley. The musical also features several comedic scenes, particularly involving the character of Egbert Fitzgerald, a bumbling American tourist. One of the characteristics of Gay Divorce is its use of double entendres and suggestive lyrics. This was typical of Porter's style, and was a source of controversy at the time. The musical also features several references to homosexuality, which was unusual for a Broadway musical of the time. Gay Divorce was a critical and commercial success, and helped establish Porter as one of the leading composers of his time. The musical was adapted into a film in 1934, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The film was retitled The Gay Divorcee, due to the Hays Code's restrictions on the use of the word "gay" in a sexual context.

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