Set in Salvador, Bahia, the musical starts with the sudden death of Dona Flor's husband, Vadinho, who collapses in the midst of Carnival celebrations. After a period of mourning, Dona Flor attracts another admirer, a local pharmacist, Teodoro. While her new husband lacks the passionate sensuality of Vadinho, he compensates by providing a life free of worry. But, on the first anniversary of her marriage, Vadinho returns. He is now a ghost, but has lost none of his old ways.
The musical started its try-out period at the Colonial TheatreinBoston, Massachusetts. It ran from December 25th 1978 to January 6th 1979, being cut short by a week due to poor reviews and low tickets sales. The Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on January 11, 1979, and moved to Broadway Theatre on March 1, 1979, where it closed after 101 performances and 38 previews.[1] It ran for a total of 177 performances.[2]
The production received generally mixed reviews with the Daily News calling it "polished" but "without inner energy"[4] and The Journal News saying the "exotic" performance of actress Tovah Feldshuh kept the musical running "longer than it deserved."[5]
