 Arlen's music parodies the popular form of Calypso, which was in vogue in the 1950s, largely as a result of the popularity of Harry Belafonte, for whom the musical originally was written.Belafonte withdrew from the production due to illness, and the musical was tailored around the talents of Lena Horne.Harburg was blacklisted in Hollywood at the time of the writing of the musical, and the satire is unusually pointed.