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Kismet
Original Logo
Music	Alexander Borodin Adapted by: Robert Wright George Forrest
Lyrics	Robert Wright George Forrest
Book	Charles Lederer Luther Davis
Based upon	Play by Edward Knoblock
Productions	1953 Broadway 1954 West End 1955 Film 2007 English National Opera
Awards	Tony Award for Best Musical

Kismet is a musical, with music and lyrics written in 1953 by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from the music of Alexander Borodin, and produced by Charles Lederer, who in 1954, won three Tony Awards for it. The musical was adapted from the book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, based on the play by Edward Knoblock. [1]

Directed by Albert Marre, it premiered on December 3, 1953 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York in the midst of a newspaper strike, and despite the lack of reviews was a hit, running for 583 performances. The original production starred Alfred Drake as the poet Hajj, Doretta Morrow as his daughter Marsinah, Richard Kiley as the young Caliph of Baghdad, and Joan Diener as the vampy wife of the evil Wazir. The show was even more successful in London's West End, enjoying a 648-show run at the Stoll Theatre. Columbia Masterworks Records recorded the original Broadway cast in late 1953; the recording was later reissued on CD by Masterworks Broadway Records.

The musical Kismet was made into a Cinemascope film in 1955 by MGM, starring Howard Keel as Hajj, Ann Blyth as Marsinah, Dolores Gray as the Wazir's wife, and Vic Damone as the Caliph. A studio cast recording was made in 1991 starring Samuel Ramey. With some minor alterations, it was restaged as Timbuktu! in 1978.

The musical is being restaged in June & July 2007 by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum and is starring West End musical legend Michael Ball (singer) and Alfie Boe (singer).

Contents 1 Synopsis 1.1 Act One 1.2 Act Two 2 Music 3 1954 Tony Awards 4 Sources 5 External links

Kismet takes place in the city of Baghdad in the times of The Arabian Nights.

After the Overture, the curtain rises on a Mosque. The Imam of the Mosque appears, looks to the skies and sings of The Sands of Time as the sun rises and the Muezzins begin to chant. Three beggars sitting outside the temple begin their day's begging. They discuss the absence of the fourth of their number, Hajj, who has gone to Mecca. Then, with a cry of "Rhymes! Fine Rhymes!", a poet enters and tries to sell his verses to crowd and beggars alike. His beautiful daughter Marsinah joins in the sales pitch, but they have no success (Rhymes Have I). Marsinah is sent off to steal oranges in the Bazaar for their breakfast, while he sits down to beg. When the beggars object to the Poet taking Hajj's place, he fobs them off by claiming to be a cousin of Hajj.

The wily Poet's begging technique works like a charm: he threatens to curse those who do not give him money ("May your taxes increase!" he shouts at one businessman), and soon earns a few coins. He reflects on his success and sings a paean to Fate, when he is interrupted by Hassen-Ben, a huge man from the desert, who mistakes him for Hajj and kidnaps him.

The Poet (whom we may as well start calling Hajj, as that's the name he goes by for the rest of the show) is taken to Jawan, a notorious brigand. It seems that, fifteen years ago, the real Hajj had placed a curse on Jawan that resulted in the disappearance of the brigand's little son. Now he wants the curse removed. The new Hajj, seeing an opportunity to make a little cash, promises to do so for 100 gold pieces. Jawan leaves for Baghdad to search for his son, and Hajj rejoices in his new-found riches (Fate, Reprise)

Back in the city, the Bazaar is abuzz with salesmen and customers (Bazaar of the Caravans), when a trumpet is heard and the procession of the Wazir of Police comes through. The evil Wazir and his seductive, beautiful wife-of-wives, Lalume, discuss a loan he desperately needs. In return for the money lent from the King of Ababu, the Caliph must marry one (or all three) of the Princesses of Ababu (who perform a sexy dance). Through their Ayah, the Princesses tell Lalume that they wish to return home. Lalume convinces them that Baghad is much more exciting than any other place on earth (Not Since Nineveh)

Meanwhile, Marsinah is being pursued by a fruit merchant whose wares she has stolen. He is about to attack her when her father comes in and rescues her, giving the man money. Hajj gives his daughter half of the money and goes off too. The merchants set out their finest Baubles, Bangles and Beads for the young lady, and, as she sings in wonderment at the riches surrounding her, she is seen by the young Caliph. Along with his advisor, Omar, he has been traveling the town incognito when he sees her. He is immediately struck by her beauty and follows her.

Hajj is basking in the glow of several scantily-dressed slave girls he has just bought when he is stopped by the police, who are checking identities because they are looking for Jawan. Hajj tries to bribe them, but the Chief recognizes the crest of a family Jawan has robbed on the coins, and Hajj is arrested as a thief.

Meanwhile, Marsinah has found a quaint little house with a beautiful garden to buy for her father and herself. She is admiring the garden when the Caliph slips in and, pretending to be a gardener, introduces himself to Marsinah. They fall in love on the spot (Stranger in Paradise). When he must go, they promise to meet again in the garden at moonrise. When the Caliph leaves, he tells Omar that he has fallen in love. He is overheard by some policemen, and they comment on the situation. (He's in Love)

At the Wazir's Palace, Hajj is on trial for theft of 100 pieces of gold. The Wazir has no need for such frivolities as evidence; he immediately sentences Hajj to 20 lashes and the cutting off of his right hand. When the Poet claims innocence, he adds another 20 lashes to the sentence. The poet tries a new tactic: he does not object to the lashes, but "as a poet and storyteller, the loss of a hand would cripple my career!" It is the gesture that tells the story, he says, and goes into detail to prove it (Gesticulate). Though the lovely Lalume (who is attracted to the handsome poet), begs her husband for forgiveness, the Wazir is not convinced, and Hajj gets another twenty lashes. Hajj, desperate, sends a curse the Wazir's way. The Wazir has the sneer already to give to the condemned man when a guard bursts in with news that they have captured Jawan.

The old brigand is brought in, sees the poet, and asks him where his son is. Suddenly, he sees a medallion around the Wazir's neck, a medallion that his son was wearing when he was captured. The Wazir is his son! Jawan praises the power of the great magician, Hajj, a man who has the power to curse and uncurse. Jawan is thrilled to see his son, but the evil Wazir sentences his own father to death. "For the leading judge of Mesopotamia to have as a father the leading criminal of Mesopotamia," he says, "[is] a disturbing thought."

As Jawan is bundled off to execution, the Wazir realizes that the "powerful Magician" has cursed him. Just when he is about to murder the poor Hajj, the Caliph enters with news that he has found a bride, a commoner, and that he will marry her tonight. When he leaves, the Wazir collapses. If the Caliph does not marry the princesses of Ababu, he will be ruined. When he concludes that this is a result of Hajj's curse, he begs Hajj to reverse the situation, promising him a reprieve and the title of Emir. Hajj agrees.

When the Wazir and his council leave, Lalume confronts the Poet. She has seen through his charade, and he is no more wizard than she is. But Hajj must try. Lalume, realizing that he may be her chance out of the dull life she leads (Bored, a song written for the film version but included in most productions today) and already half-way in love with him, promises to help. When the Wazir returns, Hajj and Lalume have the girls of the Harem dance as he sings a powerful and mystic-sounding invocation to fate. During the wild dance distracting the Wazir, Hajj takes the opportunity to jump out the window, leaving his coat behind him. When the Wazir sees he is gone, he clutches the clock in amazement and faints. (Act One Finale)

In a street near the house of his beloved, the Caliph instructs his wedding procession on what to do on this, his wedding night (Night of my Nights). Inside, Marsinah hears the procession, but thinks only of her gardener. (Stranger in Paradise, Reprise). Hajj enters and tells her of the situation he's in, and informs her that they must run immediately for Damascus. But Marsinah refuses to go. They argue, and he nearly strikes her before he runs off, ashamed, and she departs in the opposite direction. When the Caliph enters the garden, his love is not there.

When the Wazir is informed by his spies that the Caliph's bride has disappeared, he rejoices at the power he now wields in having a magician as Emir, and fantasizes about the influence he will hold (Was I Wazir?). He instructs Lalume to keep his new Emir happy, something she is only too eager to do (Rahadlakum).

The pair are just discussing a little trip to a "small oasis, a week's travel by camel" when Marsinah enters the Harem. Father and daughter make up, and she tells him of her lover and asks him to find him for her. Little does she know that the Caliph is, at that exact moment in the next room, ordering the Wazir to find his Love and describing her in detail (And This Is My Beloved).

Later, Hajj and Omar encounter each other and engage a battle of wits, a discussion of fools. It ends when the poet describes an incident that led to an enlightenment for him. (The Olive Tree).

The Wazir, hoping to convince the Caliph that only wanting one wife is just a phase, shows him his harem through a peephole at the exact moment Marsinah wanders in. The Caliph lets out a cry of pain: his love is a member of the Wazir's Harem! The Wazir, not knowing quite what is going on, but sure that Hajj has arranged the whole thing, claims that she is one of his wives. The Caliph, heartbroken, agrees to choose his Wife-of-wives that night during his Diwan. As to not have lied to his prince, the Wazir immediately marries Marsinah himself, promising to visit her that night. She promises to kill herself if he does.

That night, at the Caliph's Diwan, the candidates for his hand are presented and dance for him: Princess Zubedya of Damascus, Princess Samaris of Bangalore, and the Three Ababu Princesses (Zubedya and Samaris' Dance). The Caliph is unmoved. The Wazir takes Hajj, who is searching for Marsinah, aside, and asks him if there is any magic way of making sure that the Caliph picks the Ababu princess. He also casually thanks the "wizard" for placing the Caliph's beloved in his own harem. Laughing, he tells him that he has married her. Pretty little thing, he says, name of Marsinah.

Hajj understands at once what has happened, and pulls a knife. But then he sees a better method of getting rid of the wicked Wazir. He takes a blank plaque from his turban and throws it in a pool, proclaiming that when it is retrieved, it will read the name of the Caliph's fated bride. He secretly gives the Wazir another tablet, this one with the name Ababu written on it, and tells him to hide it in his boot and to retrieve the tablet from the pool and make the switch. The Wazir eagerly agrees. When he enters the pool, Hajj trips him and holds him underwater until he drowns.

Hajj explains all to the Caliph and has Marsinah brought in, joyfully re-uniting the pair. The Caliph is ready to pardon Hajj for his murder of a public official, but the Poet turns him down. He requests to be condemned to be "banished to some dreadful oasis ... at least a week's journey away by camel," and to be made to comfort the Wazir's widow in her "grief." As the two couples unite, the Poet reflects on the fleetingness of The Sands of Time.

                           Alex                                                                                                            Mrs.Dyer

“ Kismet” “Stranger in Paradise”

      “Stranger in Paradise” was created at around the 1940’s. This beautiful song was made for the production of the musical “Kismet”. This operatical play received three Tony Awards in 1954. They were, Best Musical, best actor which Alfred Drake one as being Hajj, and lastly for Musical conductor in which Louis Adrian one. Many things go on in this play as a synopsis of Act One shows. First the curtain rises on a Mosque in Bagdad, at this point the Imam of the Bagdad mosque breaks out in song with “Sands of Time”, and then beggars enter the stage wondering where their friend Hajj is. At the same time a poet enters with his daughter Marsinah singing rhymes, Marsinah’s father claims he himself is Hajj. Then as he claims himself as Hajj a man under the work of the robber chief Jawan kidnaps him. Jawan has been looking for Hajj for years for back time Hajj placed a curse upon Jawan who soon lost his son. Jawan wants the curse removed from him and the so called Hajj (who which is called this for the rest of the show) promises to for 100 gold coins
    In another scene it is early morning, the Bazaar is in full swing and the chief of police, Wazir, Who is in dept with his father promises to marry one of three beautiful sisters to Caliph (the prince). At the same time, Hajj gives half of his money to his daughter Marsinah. Caliph spots Marsinah and follows her offstage. The police come by trying to find Jawan and notice Hajj who has robbed Jawan and they arrested him on the spot. Meanwhile Marsinah spent her coins on a house and a garden. At this time Caliph pretends to be a gardener, and when spotted by eye, both singles are attracted to each other. This is when the couple sings the shows hit number “Stranger in Paradise”. Ongoing at Wazirs palace, hajj is accused of theft. As Jawan enters he notices a family medallion around Hajj’ neck and claims him his son. He then sentences Hajj to death.
    Then onto another scene Caliph enters the room with Wazir and hajj and claims he will not marry on of the three beautiful princesses but will marry an ordinary woman. Hajj is attracted to Wazir’s wife Lalume and she the same to him and she distracts Wazir for Hajj to escape. This would be the end of the first Act and the beginning of the second Act. At first Caliph arrives at Marsinah’s with the wedding plan. Hajj then enters and begs her to escape with him; but Marsinah rejects and they go in different directions. Caliph comes back with no bride there. The next scene begins with Wazir finding out that Caliph is no longer with him. At the same time Hajj and Lalume are planning to have a little vacation. Then Marsinah enters and she and Hajj make up. Marsinah asks for Hajj to find her future husband the gardener and in the other room Caliph’s asks the same to find her. In the second to last scene Wazir sees Marsinah and he marries her. Hajj then drowns Wazir in the last scene and Marsinah and Caliph get back together and Hajj is punished.
    In this movie there are many lead characters. These include Hajj, Marsinah, Caliph, Lalume, Jawan, and Wazir. Hajj is a cunning poet, who impersonates Hajj, and he is about 40 to 60 years old.Marsinah is the winsome daughter of Hajj who falls in love with Caliph and she is about 16 to 22 years old. Caliph is a handsome prince who falls in love with Marsinah and is 18 to 30 years old.Lalume is the Wazir of polices gorgeous wife who is 30 to 40 years old. Jawan is an amazing thief who is the Wazir’s father and Wazir himself is the Wazir of police who is very greedy and 30 to 45 years old with a dad of about 55 to 75 years old.
    “Kismet’ is a musical written by Alexander Borodin. This man was a Great Russian composer of his time and was famous in all aspects. Although he was a great man he had to give some credit towards Robert Wright and George Forrest in whom the man adapted his music for “Kismet” from. It was written during the late 1940’s into the early 1950’s.The marvelous play debut in 1953 in New York. It played for 583 showings and ended when it began in the London Coliseum, the home of the English National Opera. In London it ran for 648 shows then closed. At first this majestic and romantic play was not well received. It was not until the later days that critics gave it outstanding ratings. In 1955 this musical was created into a feature film. Presently the opera is being restaged in the June-July months of 2007 by the London National Opera starring Michael Ball and Alfie Boe.
    “Stranger in Paradise is both a romantic and Beautiful song. This song sits within a happy part of the musical towards the middle of the musical at the end of act one. Right before this song Marsinah was given money and she bought herself a house and garden. Right after the song Hajj is immediately arrested and he is placed on trial, and Caliph is off to wazir to claim his marriage to a regular citizen. The characters singing this song are Marsinah and Caliph. Marsinah is an appealing young daughter of a poet, and Caliph is a handsome noble prince. The driving emotion behind the song is that both singles have felt lonely their entire lives and at the blink of an eye they have seen love at first sight. They will no longer be alone if they stay with each other for ever and they will always be fulfilled. They sing this song to share each others emotional desires of having the sense of sight for eachother. In the middle of the song the emotions are changed. While Caliph is singing, in the text he is asking for Marsinah’s hand to take him out of loneliness, because he is not sure if Marsinah feels the say way about him. During the song when the lyrics say, somewhere in space I hang suspended, there is a crescendo do to the character begging for Marsinah to be a part of Caliph’s life. At this point as well the tempo goes to forte, in which the singer gets louder do to the character showing his desperate need for Marsinah.
    This song is being sung in Marsinah’s garden she bought right before she met caliph. This is a romantic garden with lustful greenery. This song needs a specific style of voice to be sung. The style of this song is opera. Like the outstanding Luciano Pavarotti, this song needs to be sung with great wide vowels that only few people can reach. This is reached by using great resonance in the back of the throat. The character is singing to his new love of life. Caliph wants Marsinah to be with him and Marsinah wants Caliph to be with her. Obviously every on ein the world can seek a relationship between caliph and Marsinah’s romance. When you like someone you want to be with them forever. You feel love at first sight. You want them to share the good times and the bad times, the depressing times and exiting times. Every single on of us can compare our lives to the main characters of “Kismet”. On the first page of text in the song Caliph asks for Marsinah’s hand for he doesn’t know his real place in the world with out her. On the second page he begins by telling her how she is an angel. He explains that how when he first saw her face he felt lifted from the rest of the world, and a stranger no more. He finds her dreamy, and he feels lucky, rare. On the third page he tells her that until he knows that she cares for him as well he is still lost in the world or hanging in space. Caliph says, wont you tell me you like me for if you don’t I will ever be doomed with out true love. He asks her to open her arms and take me forever. During the second half of the song he repeats everything he said before, except he calls the stranger in paradise that he said before, to be himself instead to Marsina’h claiming his true love for her Beauty. Thus “Stranger in Paradise is a compelling song that touches everyone, and it is in a wonderful musical.

The derivation of musical numbers in Kismet from Borodin's music is given partially as follows:

Act I

• "Sands Of Time": In the Steppes of Central Asia
• "Fate": Symphony No. 2, 1st movement, opening theme
• "Bazaar of The Caravans": Symphony No. 2, 4th movement, opening theme; Prince Igor, No. 17, "Polovetsian Dances", Wild Dance of the Men
• "Not Since Nineveh": Prince Igor, No. 1 (Prologue) & No. 17, "Polovetsian Dances" (introductory theme)
• "Baubles, Bangles And Beads": Prince Igor, No. 2a and 2f (Skula and Yeroshka's music); String Quartet No. 2, 2nd Movement (Scherzo), secondary theme
• "Stranger In Paradise": Prince Igor, No. 17, "Polovetsian Dances", Gliding Dance of the Maidens
• "He's In Love!": Prince Igor, No. 17, "Polovetsian Dances", General Dance (D Major)
• "Gesticulate": Prince Igor, No. 15, "Aria of Khan Konchak"; Symphony No. 1, 4th Movement, opening theme

Act II

• "Night Of My Nights": "Sérénade" from Petite Suite for piano
• "And This Is My Beloved": Prince Igor, No. 14 (Ovlur's theme); String Quartet No. 2, 3rd Movement (Notturno, originally in 3/4 meter), opening theme
• "The Olive Tree": Prince Igor, No. 23, Trio (also used in the opera's overture)
• "Zubbediya, Samahris' Dance": Prince Igor, No. 2b, Song of Vladimir of Galich & No. 17, "Polovetsian Dances", Dance of the Boys and Men

"Stranger In Paradise" has been covered by many artists, including Bing Crosby and Tony Bennett.

The plot of the musical film Silk Stockings starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse revolves around the adaptation of a Russian composer's works for a jazzed-up Hollywood musical, and has been taken to be a reference to the adaptation of Borodin's works to Kismet.

• Tony Award for Best Musical - Book by Charles Lederer, Luther Davis; With Music From Alexander Borodin; Musical Adaptation by Robert Wright, George Forrest; Produced by Charles Lederer (WINNER)
• Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical - Alfred Drake (WINNER)
• Tony Award for Musical Conductor - Louis Adrian (WINNER)

• Borodin, A. Le Prince Igor. Partition pour chant et piano. Edition M.P. Belaieff. (Russian, French, and German text.)

• Kismet at The Internet Broadway Database

Awards
Preceded by Wonderful Town	Tony Award for Best Musical 1954	Succeeded by The Pajama Game

v • d • e Tony Award for Best Musical: Winners (1949–1969)

1949: Kiss Me, Kate  •  1950: South Pacific  •  1951: Guys and Dolls  •  1952: The King and I  •  1953: Wonderful Town  •  1954: Kismet  •  1955: The Pajama Game  •  1956: Damn Yankees  •  1957: My Fair Lady  •  1958: The Music Man  •  1959: Redhead  •  1960: The Sound of Music†  •  1960: Fiorello!†  •  1961: Bye Bye Birdie  •  1962: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying  •  1963: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum  •  1964: Hello, Dolly!  •  1965: Fiddler on the Roof  •  1966: Man of La Mancha  •  1967: Cabaret  •  1968: Hallelujah, Baby!  •  1969: 1776 (†: tie) Complete List · Winners (1949–1969) · Winners (1970–1989) · Winners (1990–2009)