Finding your next obsession
Finding your next obsession

Leonard Bernstein was on his honeymoon in 1951 when he began composing his one-act opera, Trouble in Tahiti, a candid portrait of the troubled marriage of a young suburban couple. Written between his biggest Broadway successes— On the Town in 1944 and Candide and West Side Story in 1956 and 1957, respectively— Trouble in Tahiti draws upon popular songs styles to deliver an uncompromising critique of post-war American materialism. Beneath the couple's marital discord is a profound longing for love and intimacy. Their spiritual emptiness, in contrast to a veneer of happy consumerism, creates the heart of the drama and is emphasized by sudden stylistic shifts in the music.
LUXEN Decision Guide
A character-led choice where relationships, emotion, and personal stakes are a bigger part of the experience than spectacle.
Best fit
Who it is for
Best suited to viewers who want a more personal, reflective story.
Commitment
Light commitment · 40m
Use the runtime as a quick check against how much time you have tonight.
Start here
Read the synopsis.
Read the synopsis, then use the music and drama cues to decide whether the tone fits.
Cast
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