- The Shadow Box
Infobox Play
name = The Shadow Box
image_size =
caption =
writer =Michael Cristofer
characters = Maggie
Beverly
Felicity
Agnes
Brian
Joe
Mark
The Interviewer
Steve
setting = Three cottages of a large hospital
premiere =3 March 1977
place =Morosco Theatre New York City, New York
orig_lang = English
subject =
genre = Drama
web =
playbill =
ibdb_id = 7899The Shadow Box is a play written by actor
Michael Cristofer . The play made its Broadway debut onMarch 31 1977 . The original cast includedSimon Oakland as Joe,Laurence Luckinbill as Brian,Mandy Patinkin as Mark,Geraldine Fitzgerald as Felicity, andVincent Spano as Steve.Plot synopsis
The play revolves around a trio of terminally ill patients, each of whom lives in a separate cottage at a hospice. Each is being interviewed about the process of dying. For most of the play, the interviewer is unseen, which means that characters speak directly to the members of the audience, as if they were the interviewer.
The first dying person is Joe, a middle-aged, blue-collar family man. Joe seems well-adjusted, and has accepted that he is dying. However, his wife Maggie is in denial, and has not told their son Steve about his father's condition.
The second dying person is Brian, a bisexual English professor. He's being cared for by his lover, Mark. They receive a visit from Brian's flamboyant, slightly trashy ex-wife Beverly. Beverly's presence lifts Brian's spirits, but rankles Mark.
The final dying person is Felicity, an elderly, cantankerous, somewhat senile woman, who is cared for by her long-suffering daughter Agnes. Felicity is in great pain, but refuses to die, because she remains hopeful that her favorite daughter, Claire, will return to her soon.
Film adaptation
Cristofer adapted the play for a
television movie in 1980, directed byPaul Newman . It went on to win aGolden Globe and nominations for threeEmmy Awards Awards and nominations
;Awards
* 1977Tony Award for Best Play
* 1977Pulitzer Prize for Drama ;Nominations
* 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New American PlayReferences
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External links
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