Fermat's Last Tango

The plot is based on the story of the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem by Andrew Wiles, whose name is changed to "Daniel Keane" in the musical. After seven years of isolation in his attic, Keane has found a proof. He announces it to the press and promises his wife Anna that he will return to normal life. In his study, Keane is surprised by none other than Fermat himself, who introduces him to the "Aftermath", where he meets the famous mathematicians Euclid, Pythagoras, Newton, and Gauss, and is informed that his proof contains a "big fat hole". Keane returns to his attic to try to fix his proof, to the disappointment of his "math widow" wife. He is taunted by Fermat about not succeeding, but the other mathematicians from the Aftermath, after noticing that they can't keep up with the mathematics of the past century, decide to grant admission to Keane anyway. As the latter finally gives up and declares his attempts a failure, Anna suggests that "within your failure lie the seeds of your success", and this quickly leads to Keane realising how to close the gap in the argument, and the musical ends with another press conference.

Rosenblum and Lessner started working on Fermat's Last Tango in December 1996, after Rosenblum had read a review of Amir Aczel's book Fermat's Last Theorem.[1] Originally planned as an opera, it turned into a musical during the writing process,[2][3] but operatic elements remained.[4] The original working title, Proof, was changed because it was shared by the successful 2000 play Proof.[2][3] While written in a whimsical tone[5] and using nerdy jokes,[6] the lyrics contain sophisticated mathematical content and mention the Shimura-Taniyama conjecture, and in the words of mathematician Arthur Jaffe, "the characters think about mathematics just the way a real mathematician would".[7]

Almost the entire text is performed in song,[4] with the exception of the prologue.[8] The music contains elements of operetta, blues, pop, and tango.[5]

The original production by the York Theatre ran from November 21 to December 31, 2000[2] at the Theater at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, directed by Mel Marvin, with sets designed by James Morgan.[9]

Cast:[4][10]

• Gilles Chiasson as Carl Friedrich Gauss and reporter
• Edwardyne Cowan as Anna Keane (mezzo-soprano)
• Mitchell Kantor as Pythagoras and reporter (bass)
• Jonathan Rabb as Pierre de Fermat (tenor)
• Chris Thompson as Daniel Keane (baritone)
• Christianne Tisdale as Euclid and reporter (soprano)
• Carrie Wilshusen as Sir Isaac Newton and reporter (mezzo-soprano)

The musical was translated into Portuguese by César Viana as O Último Tango de Fermat and was played in Portuguese university towns in 2003 and at the Teatro da Trindade in 2004.[11] Students at Madison East High School performed an abridged version in 2005 and 2006, including at a statewide meeting of the Mathematical Association of America.[12]

Reviews for Fermat's Last Tango during its theatrical run were mixed.[13] Wilburn Hampton's review in the New York Times, while noticing the catchy tunes and lyrics, criticised that Daniel Keane does not "become a real character".[9] Elyse Sommer's review in CurtainUp was more positive, finding praise for both writing and the performances of Rabb and Thompson.[4]

The mathematical reception has been more generally positive, with audiences of screenings of the film version reacting "mildly amused to enthusiastic." Mathematician Robert Osserman, while acknowledging the musical as unique to the point of making comparisons difficult, found it fun and moving and praised the actors and the music. He especially pointed out the mathematical accuracy, but mildly complained about stereotyping of mathematicians and the differences between the true story of Andrew Wiles and the fictional story of Daniel Keane: Unlike Keane, Wiles did not withdraw to his attic for seven years and did not solve the complete Shimura-Taniyama conjecture. Richard Taylor's role in the proof is also omitted in the fictionalized version. Michele Emmer's review in the Mathematical Intelligencer was positive, stating "the gamble of trying to produce an entertaining and mathematically correct musical turned out a success."[1] In their book Math Goes to the Movies, mathematicians Burkard Polster and Marty Ross were enthusiastic about Fermat's Last Tango, calling it "terrific fun" and a "must-see".

In her book Science on Stage From Doctor Faustus to Copenhagen, literary scholar Kirsten Shepherd-Barr noted the musical's "successful integration of a surprising amount of 'real' mathematics with a charming and witty score."[14]

On the initiative of Clay Mathematics Institute president Arthur Jaffe, a high quality live performance video was made, directed by David Stern. It was first shown to an audience of four hundred people in July 2001 in Berkeley, and later sold at cost by the Clay Mathematics Institute in both VHS and DVD editions. A pamphlet about the mathematics and the mathematicians as well as the actors in the musical was included.[13] The film was shown at various mathematical conferences.[15]

A CD version was distributed by Original Cast Records.[11]

• Fermat's Last Tango at IMDb