Desert Song, The

Desert Song, The (1926), an operetta by Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II (book, lyrics), Frank Mandel (book), Sigmund Romberg (music).[Casino Theatre, 465 perf.] In the mountains of Morocco, the French are fighting the rebellious Riffs, who are led by a mysterious figure known as the Red Shadow. Pierre Birabeau ( Robert Halliday), the son of the French commander, loves one of the beautiful women at the encampment, Margot Bonvalet ( Vivienne Segal), but she has little time for the shy, seemingly backward young man. Matters come to a head when the Red Shadow kidnaps Margot. The French bribe a Riff dancing girl into betraying the leader, but he escapes, leaving behind only a red cloak. All that the French discover is Pierre wandering aimlessly in the desert. The French and the Riffs reach an accommodation. Margot, however, is forlorn, since she has fallen in love with her romantic captor. She looks on Pierre with new eyes when he reveals he was the leader. Notable songs: The Desert Song; One Alone; The Riff Song; Romance. Suggested by the real‐life exploits of a contemporary Berber chieftain named Abd‐el‐Krim, the exotic backgrounds and Romberg's lush score made this one of the biggest and best‐loved hits of the era, albeit Richard Watts Jr. observed in the Herald Tribune, “The lyrics gave indication that W. S. Gilbert had lived and died in vain.” Perennially revived for decades, it is still produced by opera companies.