The Man Who Had All the Luck

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The title character is David Beeves, a young Midwestern automobile mechanic who discovers he is blessed with what appears to be almost supernatural good fortune that allows him to overcome every seemingly insurmountable obstacle that crosses his path while those around him fall in defeat. Like Midas, everything he touches is tinged with gold, leaving him to wonder if and when his luck will change and he too will be forced to deal with life's tragedies, until he eventually realizes that his good heart, hard work, and quick thought have been responsible for his success far more than luck.

Although written in 1940, the play did not reach New York City until four years later, Miller's first to be mounted on Broadway. Directed by Joseph Fields, it opened on November 23 1944 at the Forrest Theatre, where it ran for only 4 performances. Karl Swenson starred as David Beeves.

The play's failure nearly derailed Miller's career, and it remained one of his least known works until 2000, when director Dan Fields mounted a production that ran for seven weeks at the Ivy Substation Theater in Culver City, California. The following year, a production was staged by the Williamstown Theatre Festival, which had presented the American premiere of Miller's "The Ride Down Mt. Morgan".

After fifteen previews, a Broadway revival directed by Scott Ellis opened on May 1 2002 at the American Airlines Theatre, where it ran for 62 performances. The cast included Chris O'Donnell as David Beeves, with Samantha Mathis, Mason Adams, James Rebhorn, Richard Riehle, David Wohl, and Sam Robards, whose performance garnered him Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

In 2006, it was announced Ellis was directing a feature film adaptation of the play [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444662/] .

The play was revived at the Donmar Warehouse, London, in March 2008 in a production by Sean Holmes. [http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/manluck-rev.htm]

In 1990 the Bristol Old Vic staged "The Man Who Had All The Luck" with Iain Glen in the lead role. The production was directed by Paul Unwin. It later transferred to the Young Vic in London.

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/show.asp?ID=5784 Internet Broadway Database listing]
* [http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9C06E7DA1531F931A35756C0A9649C8B63 2002 New York Times review]
* [http://www.myculvercity.org/cultural/ivysubstation.asp?sec=arts Ivy Substation Theater & Media Park in Culver City, CA]

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