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By TIMES WIRES
Published December 30, 2006

Musical's masked optimism canceled

One of the world's most prestigious opera houses has canceled an updated production of the musical Candide that includes actors dancing in underwear while wearing masks of President Bush and other world leaders. Italy's La Scala said in a statement that the production was not in line with its "artistic program." Artistic director Stephane Lissner decided this after watching a performance Tuesday in Paris, which is hosting the new version of the musical adaptation of Voltaire's satire against eternal optimism. When it debuted on Broadway 50 years ago, Candide satirized McCarthyism. This production includes actors wearing masks of Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, French President Jacques Chirac and Russian President Vladimir Putin as they dance in their underwear, wearing ties featuring their national flags. La Scala spokesman Carlo Maria Cella told the Associated Press on Friday the scene "was only part of the problem, and a small part." Cella elaborated only to say that the new version is a "peculiar work."

[Last modified December 30, 2006, 00:14:40]