- Crimes of the Heart
-
For the film, see Crimes of the Heart (film).
Crimes of the Heart 
Original Broadway posterWritten by Beth Henley Characters Babe Botrelle
Meg MaGrath
Lenny MaGrath
Barnette Lloyd
Doc Porter
Chick BoyleDate premiered December 9, 1980 Place premiered Manhattan Theater Club
New York City, New YorkOriginal language English Genre Black comedy Setting Hazelhurst, Mississippi IBDB profile IOBDB profile Crimes of the Heart is a play by Beth Henley.
Contents
Synopsis
At the core of the tragic comedy are the three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite at Old Granddaddy's home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi after Babe shoots her abusive husband. The trio was raised in a dysfunctional family with a penchant for ugly predicaments and each has endured her share of hardship and misery. Past resentments bubble to the surface as they're forced to deal with assorted relatives and past relationships while coping with the latest incident that has disrupted their lives. Each sister is forced to face the consequences of the "crimes of the heart" she has committed.
Productions
Henley completed her play in 1978 and submitted it to several regional theatres without success. Unknown to her, a friend entered it in the Great American Play Contest at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, and it was named co-winner and performed in February 1979 at the company's annual festival of New American Plays. The production was extremely well received, and the play was selected by numerous regional theatres for their 1979-80 season. The show starred Lee Anne Fahey, Kathy Bates, and Susan Kingsley.
At the end of 1980, the Manhattan Theatre Club staged the play's New York City premiere for a limited, sold-out engagement of thirty-two performances. After thirteen previews, the Broadway production, directed by Melvin Bernhardt, set design by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Patricia McGourty, and lighting by Dennis Parichy, opened on November 4, 1981 at the John Golden Theatre, where it ran for 535 performances. The opening night cast included Mia Dillon, Mary Beth Hurt, Lizbeth MacKay, Raymond Baker, Sharon Ullrick, and Peter MacNicol. The play's success spawned productions in London's West End, Chicago, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Houston, and it continues to be a popular choice for community theatre and summer stock productions.
A production at Off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre ran from April 16, 2001 to May 14, 2001. It was directed by Garry Hynes, and featured Julia Murney (Chick), Enid Graham (Lenny), and Mary Catherine Garrison (Babe). The play was nominated for the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Revival of the season.
A Roundabout Theatre Company Off-Broadway production, based on a 2007 Williamstown Theatre Festival production, was directed by Kathleen Turner. It ran February 14, 2008 to April 20 and featured Lily Rabe (Babe), Jennifer Dundas (Lenny), Sarah Paulson (Meg) and Jessica Stone (Chick).[1]
Adaptation
Main article: Crimes of the Heart (film)The 1986 film adaptation was directed by Bruce Beresford and garnered three Academy Award nominations, including one for Henley for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Awards and nominations
- Awards
- 1981 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best American Play
- 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- 1982 Theatre World Award
- Lizbeth MacKay
- Peter MacNicol
- Nominations
- 1982 Tony Award for Best Play
- 1982 Tony Award, Best Featured Actress in a Play
- Mia Dillon
- Mary Beth Hurt
- 1982 Tony Award, Best Direction of a Play (Melvin Bernhardt)
- 1981 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play
- 1981 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play (Mary Beth Hurt)
- 1981 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Play
References
- ^ Ernio Hernandez (January 29, 2008). "Roundabout Shifts Crimes of the Heart Opening to Valentine's Day". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/114689.html. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
External links
- Crimes of the Heart at the Internet Broadway Database
- Crimes of the Heart at the Internet off-Broadway Database for 1980
- Internet Off- Broadway Database listing, 2001
- Curtain Up review, February 13, 2008
Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1976–2000) - A Chorus Line (1976)
- The Shadow Box (1977)
- The Gin Game (1978)
- Buried Child (1979)
- Talley's Folly (1980)
- Crimes of the Heart (1981)
- A Soldier's Play (1982)
- 'night, Mother (1983)
- Glengarry Glen Ross (1984)
- Sunday in the Park with George (1985)
- Fences (1987)
- Driving Miss Daisy (1988)
- The Heidi Chronicles (1989)
- The Piano Lesson (1990)
- Lost in Yonkers (1991)
- The Kentucky Cycle (1992)
- Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (1993)
- Three Tall Women (1994)
- The Young Man From Atlanta (1995)
- Rent (1996)
- How I Learned to Drive (1998)
- Wit (1999)
- Dinner with Friends (2000)
- Complete list
- (1918–1925)
- (1926–1950)
- (1951–1975)
- (1976–2000)
- (2001–2025)
Categories:- 1978 plays
- Plays by Beth Henley
- Broadway plays
- New York Drama Critics' Circle Award winners
- Off-Broadway plays
- Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- Mississippi in fiction
- Plays set in the United States
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
