June Moon
| June Moon | |
|---|---|
 First edition 1930 | |
| Written by |
George S. Kaufman Ring Lardner |
| Date premiered | October 9, 1929 |
| Place premiered |
Broadhurst Theatre New York City |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | A young man from upstate New York seeks fame as a Tin Pan Alley lyricist |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Setting | New York City, 1929 |
June Moon is a play by George S. Kaufman and Ring Lardner. Based on the Lardner short story "Some Like Them Cold," about a love affair that loses steam before it ever gets started, it includes songs with words and music by Lardner but is not considered a musical per se.
At its center is Fred Stevens, a young aspiring lyricist who journeys from Schenectady to New York City, where he hopes to make a name for himself in the world of song publishing and night clubs. On the train he meets dental assistant Edna Baker, and the two embark upon a friendship that evolves into love for her and fondness for him. While struggling to become a Tin Pan Alley notable, Fred takes a shine to his composer partner Paul's glamorous, gold-digging sister-in-law Eileen. The two men sell a song to a music publisher and it develops into a hit. Ultimately, revelations about Eileen's true character help return Fred to his senses and Edna, whom he realizes he truly loves.
Productions
The original Broadway production opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on October 9, 1929 and ran for 273 performances. It was directed by Kaufman, and the cast included Norman Foster as Fred, Linda Watkins as Edna, Frank Otto as Paul, and Lee Patrick as Eileen.
There was a production of June Moon prior to the Broadway production with the same cast, that opened at the Shubert-Belasco Theatre in Washington, D.C. on September 23, 1929.
Milano Tilden and Carl Hunt directed a revival that opened at the Ambassador Theatre on May 15, 1933 and ran for 49 performances. The cast included Thomas Gillen as Fred, Emily Lowry as Edna, Fred Irving Lewis as Paul, and Lee Patrick reprising the role of Eileen.
Mark Nelson directed an off-Broadway revival performed by the Drama Dept. that had a short run at the Ohio Theater in Soho in January 1997. Writing in the New York Times, Ben Brantley observed, "There is indeed a discernible streak of anxiety in the comedy. It may have been written as fluff, but it's flavored with a subliminal sadness that belies its own happy ending." [1] The production won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Revival and was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play Actor Albert Macklin, who portrayed sardonic accompanyist Maxie received a Best Actor Obie Award. On January 15, 1998, it reopened at the Variety Arts Theatre and ran for 101 performances. The cast included Geoffrey Nauffts as Fred, Robert Joy as Paul, and Cynthia Nixon as Eileen. Albert Macklin reprised his Obie-winning role as Maxie.
A production was performed at UC San Diego from February 24th, 2012 through March 3rd, 2012, directed by Jonathan SIlverstein and featuring Jack Mikesell as Fred, Vi Flaten as Edna.
Jessica Stone directed a Williamstown Theatre Festival production from July 2–13, 2014.[2]
Film adaptations
Vincent Lawrence, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and Keene Thompson adapted the play for a 1931 feature film directed by A. Edward Sutherland. The cast included Jack Oakie as Fred, Frances Dee as Edna, Ernest Wood as Paul, and June MacCloy as Eileen.
Paramount Pictures produced a 1937 version called Blonde Trouble.
On June 2, 1949, CBS Television broadcast an hour long adaptation of June Moon on the live anthology show Studio One. The live television production was directed by Walter Hart, adapted by Gerald Goode, and featured Jack Lemmon as Fred Stevens, Eva Marie Saint as Edna, Edward Andrews as Paul, and Jean Carson as Eileen.
Kirk Browning and Burt Shevelove staged the play for a PBS broadcast that aired on January 30, 1974. The cast included Tom Fitzsimmons as Fred, Barbara Dana as Edna, Jack Cassidy as Paul, Beatrice Colen as Goldie and Susan Sarandon as Eileen, with Kevin McCarthy, Lee Meredith, Estelle Parsons, Austin Pendleton, and Stephen Sondheim in supporting roles. A DVD of this production was released by Kultur Video on April 16, 2002.
Radio adaptations
June Moon was presented on The Campbell Playhouse on March 24, 1940. Cast: Orson Welles (Candy Butcher on train), Jack Benny (Fred Stevens), Benny Rubin (Maxie Schwartz), Gus Schilling (Paul Sears), Bea Benaderet (Lucille Sears), Lee Patrick (Eileen), Virginia Gordon (Edna Baker)
June Moon was presented on Philip Morris Playhouse October 3, 1941. Eddie Cantor starred in the 30-minute adaptation.[3]
References
- ↑ New York Times, January 11, 1977
- ↑ Wiliamstown Theatre Festival Archive
- ↑ "Johnny Presents". Harrisburg Telegraph. October 3, 1941. p. 15. Retrieved July 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- June Moon at the Internet Broadway Database
- June Moon (1931) at the Internet Movie Database
- June Moon (1974) at the Internet Movie Database