Roberta

Roberta (1933), a musical comedy by Otto Harbach (book, lyrics), Jerome Kern (music). [ New Amsterdam Theatre, 295 perf.] When all‐American fullback John Kent (Ray Middleton) inherits the exclusive Paris dress shop “Roberta” from his Aunt Minnie (Fay Templeton), he and his pal Huckleberry Haines (Bob Hope) go to Europe to take charge. John allows his aunt's young assistant Stephanie (Tamara) to run the shop, and soon a romance blossoms between the two. The appearance of John's old flame, Sophie (Helen Gray), nearly destroys the affair, but John recollects that Sophie deserted him before and could do it again. He settles for Stephanie, who turns out to be a Russian princess. Notable songs: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes; The Touch of Your Hand; Yesterdays; You're Devastating. Derived from Alice Duer Miller's novel, Gowns by Roberta, the musical exemplifies the ability a single hit song once had to turn a potential failure into a success. Critics lambasted the Max Gordon show, especially its dull book, but the raging popularity of “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” turned its fate around.