Illya Darling

Infobox Musical
name= Illya Darling
subtitle=


caption= Original Cast Recording
music= Manos Hadjidakis
lyrics= Joe Darion
book= Jules Dassin
basis= Jules Dassin's film
"Never on Sunday"
productions= 1967 Broadway
awards=

"Illya Darling" is a musical with a book by Jules Dassin, music by Manos Hadjidakis, and lyrics by Joe Darion, based on Dassin's 1960 film "Never on Sunday".

The show previewed in a tour of Philadelphia, Toronto and Detroit for nine weeks. After 22 previews, the Broadway production, directed by Dassin and choreographed by Onna White, opened on April 11 1967 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, where it limped along for 320 performances, fueled by the star wattage provided by Melina Mercouri in the title role (who was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance and had starred in the film), which managed to overcome the mostly lukewarm to negative reviews. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843615,00.html Time Magazine review] ] Critics find the plot too slight. [ [http://www.curtainup.com/illyadarling.html Curtain up review of a 2003 production] ]

The production was nominated for six Tonys, including Best musical, score, direction and choreography, but it did not win any. Other cast members included Orson Bean as Homer Thrace, Nikos Kourkoulos (who was also nominated for a Tony) in his Broadway debut as Tonio, and Hal Linden as No Face. After closing on Broadway, the show went on tour with Cyd Charisse as Illya. [ [http://www.zanestein.com/melina.htm Information about the production and tour] ]

ynopsis

Illya, a carefree prostitute, plies her trade in the port town of Piraeus outside Athens. With no set rates, no pimp, and an inclination to sleep only with men she likes, she differs dramatically from the other local ladies-of-the-evening. Their pimp, Garbage, works for the mysterious No Face, who charges the girls exorbitant rents. Into her life comes Homer Thrace, a priggish American in search of the glories of Ancient Greece. Attracted by Illya's physical charms, he decides to teach her about the classics and to help her become a cultured lady, while she in turn introduces him to sensual pleasures. Homer's lesson plan is to separate her from her friends and the virile Tonio. Neither ends up happier.

ong list

;Act I
*Po, Po, Po - Homer Thrace and Tonio
*Dance - Ensemble
*Zebekiko - Yorgo
*Piraeus, My Love - Illya and Men
*Golden Land - Homer Thrace and Ensemble
*Zebekiko (Reprise) - Yorgo
*Love, Love, Love - Illya
*I Think She Needs Me - Homer Thrace
*I'll Never Lay Down Any More - Despo
*After Love - Tonio
*Birthday Song - Tonio, Captain and Men
*Medea Tango - Illya and Men
*Illya Darling - Illya, Yorgo and Ensemble ;Act 2
*Dear Mr. Schubert - Illya
*The Lesson - Illya and Homer Thrace
*Never on Sunday - Illya and Ensemble
*Piraeus, My Love (Reprise) - Illya
*Medea Tango (Reprise) - Tonio
*Dance - Illya, Homer Thrace, Yorgo, Tonio, Captain, Vassily, Waiter and Ensemble
*Ya Chara - Company

Tony Award nominations

*Best Musical
*Best Composer and Lyricist
*Best Actress in a Musical (Mercouri)
*Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Kourkoulos)
*Best Choreography
*Best Direction of a Musical

References

External links

*
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843615,00.html/ Time Magazine review]