Based on the novel by Voltaire
Music by Leonard Bernstein
1999 Royal National Theatre Version

Candide was performed Thursday, November 30th at 7pm and Friday, December 1st and Saturday, December 2nd, both at 8:30pm, in the Iron Gate Theater at 37th and Chestnut Streets. Candide marked the 50th anniversary of Penn Singers!

Candide, the bastard nephew of a baron of Westphalia, is taught by his tutor Pangloss the philosophy of optimism: that all that happens is for the best according to God’s perfect plan. But the perfection of God’s plan is called into question as the baron spurns Candide’s love for his daughter, Cunegonde, and kicks him out of his castle. Candide travels the world in search of his love, and along the way encounters every conceivable type of misfortune. From his discovery of the apparently perfect kingdom of El Dorado to his discussions with the hopelessly pessimistic Martin, Candide eventually discovers a philosophical middle ground: life is neither entirely good nor entirely bad, but everyone must work to make life worth living.