Fermat's Last Tango is an intelligently written, hilarious fantasia based on Andrew Wiles' 1993 proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. The main plot consists of a love triangle between Daniel Keane (fictional character playing Wiles), his wife Anna Keane, and Fermat (and Mathematics). There are a few exaggerations, for example possibly in the portrayal of Anna's character (she is jealous of Keane's obsession with the proof and math, and incessantly begs him to instead spend intimate moments with her, which probably makes it somewhat hard to imagine that Nada Wiles has earned a doctorate in Microbiology.) However, the play marvelously captures the frustration and trauma that Keane experiences after Fermat discovers a “big, fat hole” in the original proof. After expressing much condescension for modern mathematics (and mathematicians), Fermat and other occupants of the heavenly `Aftermath': Newton, Pythagoras, Gauss, and Euclid, offer to let Keane enter this celestial ring after death, but only if he is able to mend his proof. Later on, these expired mathematicians try to catch up with twentieth century mathematics by scouring several books, but are unsuccessful, mostly because of their nostalgia for classical mathematics (for instance, Euclid is disheartened to learn about “Non-Euclidean” geometry and its extensive use!). Meanwhile, Keane miserably plunges in his desperate search of the unknown light that would resolve his proof. He even pleads Fermat to disclose his proof, but the legendary mathematician evades this imploration by echoing that he doesn't wish to lose his `precious immortality'. Finally, on Anna's birthday (though not on this day in reality; it actually takes around sixteen months for Wiles to fix his proof), when Keane is just about to resign from his endeavor and relieve his married life, a revelation strikes through, and Keane discovers his `success in a seed of [his] failure'! This musical is packed with humor, and despite some exaggerations for dramatic effects, it provides an approximate insight on Andrew Wiles' experience (as Wiles claims it does). Though light on mathematics, it is rather appealing on both a general and professional level.

It's so bad, it's good. Very punny. The actress who played Anna stole the show with "Math Widow". I also liked how the piece was performed. I always like the players idea, having actors play mutliple roles. I also thought that having the mathematical equatons projected on the walls during Danny's song of confusion projected the confusion to the audience in a way that just the song couldn't. All in all, a very enjoyable show!

My girlfriend and I saw the York production and absolutely loved it. So much so that I later acquired some of the number seats from the Aftermath and the giant QED from the finale (which I now need to pass on because I'm moving to a smaller house).

We got to chat with the cast afterward and were delighted to learn that they'd noticed the two of us sitting down front and laughing at all the math jokes, even the ones that went over the heads of the rest of the audience.

There used to be a DVD for educational use and if it’s still available, I urge high school math teachers in particular to get a copy and screen it for their students.