Candide: A Comic Operetta Based on Voltaire's Satire

by Lillian Hellman

Book by Lillian Hellman. Score by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Richard Wilburr. Other lyrics by John Latouche And Dorothy Parker.

A Random House Play.

Genres: Plays, Music, Musicals, Theatre

143 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1956

About the author

Lillian Florence "Lilly" Hellman (June 20, 1905 – June 30, 1984) was an American dramatist and screenwriter famously blacklisted by the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) at the height of the anti-communist campaigns of 1947–52.

Hellman was praised for sacrificing her career by refusing to answer questions by HUAC; but her denial that she had ever belonged to the Communist Party was easily disproved, and her veracity was doubted by many, including war correspondent Martha Gellhorn and literary critic Mary McCarthy.

She adapted her semi-autobiographical play The Little Foxes into a screenplay which received an Academy Award nomination in 1942.

Hellman was romantically involved with fellow writer and political activist Dashiell Hammett for thirty years until his death.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Javier Fernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a letdown because it was not quite a night at the opera. There's way too much narration and dialogue for that. The humor of Voltaire's masterpiece did shine through though.

[Theodore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this was certainly interesting. I think it could benefit off of really good staging but I see the vision. Obviously Candide js good.

[Brian McCann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a glorious overture. Many gorgeous songs, including the opening number, the finale, a “Glitter and Be Gay.”

What a terrible script. Just terrible. Makes no sense.