| The Women | |
|---|---|
Random House 1937, First edition cover[1]
| |
| Written by | Clare Boothe Luce |
| Characters |
|
| Date premiered | December 26, 1936 (1936-12-26) |
| Place premiered | Ethel Barrymore Theatre |
| Series |
|
| Genre | Comedy of manners |
| Setting | New York and Reno |
The Women is a 1936 American play, a comedy of mannersbyClare Boothe Luce. Only women comprise the cast.
The original Broadway production, directed by Robert B. Sinclair, opened on December 26, 1936, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where it ran for 657 performances with an all-female cast that included Margalo Gillmore, Ilka Chase, Betty Lawford, Jessie Busley, Phyllis Povah, Marjorie Main, and Arlene Francis.[2][3]
The play is a commentary on the pampered lives and power struggles of various wealthy Manhattan socialites and up-and-coming women and the gossip that propels and damages their relationships. While men frequently are the subject of their lively discussions and drive the action on-stage, they never are seen or heard.
Following a premiere December 7, 1936, at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia,[4] The Women opened December 26, 1936, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City. Produced by Max Gordon, the original Broadway production was directed by Robert B. Sinclair with settings by Jo Mielziner and costumes by John Hambleton.[5][6]
The play was revived on Broadway in 1973 at the 46th Street Theatre, running April 25-June 17, with 63 performances. It was directed by Morton Da Costa, with scenic design by Oliver Smith, costume design by Ann Roth, and lighting design by John Gleason. Other supporting staff included: production stage manager Victor Straus; stage managers Nick Malekos and Suzanne Egan; costume supervisor Ray Diffen; press representatives Shirley Herz and Stuart Fink.[7]
A second revival opened November 8, 2001, at the American Airlines Theatre and closed January 13, 2002, after a 77 performances. Production staff included Director Scott Elliott, with assisting direction by Marie Masters; production stage manager Peter Hanson; stage manager Valerie A. Peterson; scenic designer Derek McLane; costume designer Isaac Mizrahi; lighting designer Brian MacDevitt; and sound designer Douglas J. Cuomo. Jeff Francis did hair design, and Gary Arave designed the wigs. [8]
| Role | Production | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 Broadway | 1939 film | 1973 Revival | 2001 Revival | 2008 remake | |
| Sylvia Fowler | Ilka Chase | Rosalind Russell | Alexis Smith | Kristen Johnston | Annette Bening |
| Mary Haines | Margallo Gillmore | Norma Shearer | Kim Hunter | Cynthia Nixon | Meg Ryan |
| Crystal Allen | Betty Lawford | Joan Crawford | Marie Wallace | Jennifer Tilly | Eva Mendes |
| Little Mary | Charita Bauer | Virginia Weidler | Cynthia Lister | Hallie Kate Eisenberg | — |
| Mrs. Morehead | Jessie Busley | Lucile Watson | Myrna Loy | Mary Louise Wilson | — |
| Miss Watts | Virgilia Chew | Ruth Hussey | Leora Dana | Susan Bruce | — |
| Miriam Aarons | Audrey Christie | Paulette Goddard | Rhonda Flemming | Lynn Collins | — |
| Countess de Lage | Margaret Douglas | Mary Boland | Jan Miner | Rue McClanahan | — |
| Lucy | Marjorie Main | Polly Rowles | Julie Halston | — | |
| Peggy Day | Adrienne Marden | Joan Fontaine | Marian Hailey | Amy Ryan | — |
| Miss Trimmerback | Mary Murray | Mary Beth Hughes | Elizabeth Perry | Ann Talman | — |
| Nancy Blake | Jane Seymour | Florence Nash | Mary Louise Wilson | Lisa Emery | — |
| Jane | Ann Teeman | Muriel Hutchison | Regina Ress | Heather Matarazzo | — |
| Maggie | Mary Cecil | — | — | Mary Bond Davis | Cloris Leachman |
| Princess Tamara | Arlene Francis | — | Jeanne DeBaer | Roxanna Hope | — |
| Helene | Arlene Francis | — | Caryll Coan | Roxanne Hope | — |
| Mrs. Wagstaff | Ethel Jackson | — | Camila Ashland | Barbara Marineau | — |
| Edith Potter | Phyllis Povah | Dorothy Louden | Jennifer Coolidge | — | |
| Sadie | Marjorie Wood | — | Camila Ashland | Cheryl Stern | — |
The 1939 film version was directed by George Cukor and starred Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. Supporting cast included Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, Joan Fontaine and Mary Boland.
In 1956, the story was made into a musical film titled The Opposite Sex, starring June Allyson and Joan Collins.
Diane English co-wrote and directed the 2008 remake that was in development for 15 years. It starred Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Carrie Fisher, Cloris Leachman, Debi Mazar, Bette Midler, and Candice Bergen.
On February 7, 1955, the NBC anthology drama series Producers' Showcase broadcast an adaptation of the play, starring Ruth Hussey as Mary. Paulette Goddard and Mary Boland, who had each appeared in the 1939 film, also appeared in this production, as Sylvia Fowler and the Countess, respectively. Shelley Winters played the part of Crystal Allen,[9] while Mary Astor portrayed Nancy Blake and Bibi Osterwald was Edith Potter.
On June 18, 2002, the PBS anthology theatre series Stage on Screen broadcast a recording of the 2001 Broadway revival.
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Jennifer Coolidge | Nominated |
| Outstanding Set Design in a Play | Derek McLane | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Isaac Mizrahi | Won |
