The Time of the Cuckoo

"The Time of the Cuckoo" is a play by Arthur Laurents. It focuses on the bittersweet romance between Leona Samish, a single American executive secretary vacationing in Europe, and Renato Di Rossi, a shopkeeper she meets in Venice. Di Rossi, trapped in a loveless marriage, relentlessly pursues Leona, who initially is shocked by the thought of an illicit affair but eventually succumbs to the Italian's charms.

The Broadway production was directed by Harold Clurman. It opened at the Empire Theatre on October 15, 1952 and closed on May 30, 1953 after 263 performances. The theatre was demolished shorty after the play closed [ [http://www.ibdb.com/venue.aspx?id=1144 The Empire Theatre at the Internet Broadway Database] ] .

The play was adapted for the screen under the title "Summertime" in 1955 and for the musical stage as "Do I Hear a Waltz?" in 1965.

Opening night cast

*Shirley Booth ..... Leona Samish
*Geraldine Brooks ..... June Yaeger
*Dino Diluca ..... Renato Di Rossi
*Donald Murphy ..... Eddie Yaeger
*Lydia St. Clair ..... Signora Fiora
*Silva Gaselli ..... Giovanna
*Jose Perez ..... Mauro
*Daniel Reed ..... Mr. McIlhenny
*Ruggero Romor ..... Vito
*Jane Rose ..... Mrs. McIlhenny

Bethel Leslie replaced Geraldine Brooks later in the run.

Principal production credits

*Producers ..... Robert Whitehead, Walter Fried
*Scenic Design ..... Ben Edwards
*Lighting Design .....Ben Edwards
*Costume Design ..... Helene Pons

Awards

Shirley Booth won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play.

Off-Broadway revivals

The York Theatre Company in Manhattan mounted a production of the play for 16 performances in early 1986. Stuart Howard directed a cast that included Michael Learned, George Guidall, and Debra Jo Rupp [ [http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=4833 "The Time of the Cuckoo" at the Lortel Archives Off-Broadway Database] ] .

In 2000, the play was revived for a limited run from January 27 to May 7 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre located in Lincoln Center. The production, with a revised script by Laurents, was directed by Nicholas Martin. The cast included Debra Monk (who won an Obie Award for her performance), Olek Krupa, Tom Aldredge, and Polly Holliday. Theoni V. Aldredge designed the costumes [ [http://www.lct.org/calendar/event_detail.cfm?id_event=57559693 Lincoln Center calendar] ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=2342 "The Time of the Cuckoo" at the Internet Broadway Database]