Composer

:

Kurt Weill

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

Jun 1943 - Sep 1943

Publication Date

:

1943

First Performance

:

Oct 7, 1943

Movement_count

:

19

Movement ....

One Touch of Venus is a musical comedy with music composed by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Ogden Nash and S.J. Perelman. The plot revolves around a statue of Venus that comes to life when a department store clerk, Eddie Hatch, kisses it. Venus, played by Mary Martin, falls in love with Eddie and follows him around New York City, causing chaos and confusion wherever she goes. The musical was composed in 1943, during the height of World War II. Weill had already achieved success on Broadway with shows like Lady in the Dark and Knickerbocker Holiday, but One Touch of Venus was a departure from his usual style. The music is lighter and more whimsical than his previous works, with catchy tunes like "Speak Low" and "I'm a Stranger Here Myself." The show premiered on Broadway in 1943, with Mary Martin in the lead role. It was a critical and commercial success, running for over 500 performances and earning Weill his only Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score. One Touch of Venus is divided into two acts, each with its own distinct movements. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the central conflict: Eddie's love for Venus and his fiancée, Gloria, who is jealous of the statue's hold over him. The second act takes place in a nightclub, where Venus performs a series of musical numbers and Eddie must choose between his two loves. The show's most memorable characteristic is its use of satire and social commentary. Weill and his collaborators poke fun at everything from consumer culture to gender roles to the war effort itself. The character of Venus, in particular, is a commentary on the idealized image of women in popular culture. She is beautiful and alluring, but also naive and childlike, with no understanding of the world outside of her pedestal. Overall, One Touch of Venus is a charming and entertaining musical that showcases Weill's versatility as a composer. Its catchy tunes and witty lyrics have made it a favorite among theater fans for over 75 years.

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