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For the Love of Mike

Play · 1931

For the Love of Mike is a "play with music in three acts". The work was originally written as a non-musical by H. F. Maltby for the actor Tom Walls who rejected the piece when presented with the completed work. The work was then transformed by the English songwriter Clifford Grey who restructured Maltby's drama and interspersed the piece with song material with music by composers Jack Waller and Joseph Tunbridge and lyrics by Grey and Sonny Miller. It was this version of the play that finally made it to the stage; premiering in London's West End at the Saville Theatre on October 8, 1931. The cast was led by actress Peggy Cartwright in the role of "Mike" with Bobby Howes as Little Bob, Alfred Drayton as Mr. Miller, Viola Tree as Mrs. Miller, Arthur Riscoe as Paton, Syd Walker as PC Wildgoose, and Wylie Watson as the vicar. It became a hit play, running for 239 performances, and after remaining a staple/often revived work in British provincial theaters into the 1950s. The 1932 film For the Love of Mike was adapted from the play.

Forget and Forgive

Play · 1827

Forget and Forgive is a comedy play by the British writer James Kenney. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 21 November 1827. The original cast included Henry John Wallack as Charles Sydney, John Liston as Rumbold, John Cooper as Cameron, William Bennett as Sir Gregory Ogle, Maria Rebecca Davison as Lady Ratcliffe and Ellen Kean as Georgiana. Originally of five acts it was later shortened to three. It was revived under the title Frolics in France in 1828.

Fortune by Land and Sea

Play · 1623 est

Two rural families’ fortunes reverse: the mild Forrests lose their wealth while the ruthless Hardings prosper. After Old Forrest’s son is killed, his younger son flees to sea, becomes a successful privateer, defeats pirates and rescues a merchant. At home, the elder Harding son and his wife endure service until his father’s sudden death leaves him the estate; the younger Forrest later wins a pardon, and the families reconcile.

Forty Carats

Play · 1968

Forty Carats is a play by Jay Presson Allen. Adapted from the French original by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Gredy, the comedy revolves around a 40-year-old American divorcee who is assisted by a 22-year-old when her car breaks down during a vacation in Greece. Their ensuing romantic interlude changes from a brief encounter to a potentially serious relationship when he turns up on her New York City doorstep to take her 17-year-old daughter on a date. Finding the attraction between them still irresistibly strong, she must overcome her resistance to a May–December romance while contending with her mother, ex-husband, and a real estate client who wants to discuss more than business. After two previews, the Broadway production, directed by Abe Burrows, opened on December 26, 1968, at the Morosco Theatre, where it ran for 780 performances. The opening-night cast included Julie Harris (Ann Stanley), Marco St. John (Peter Latham), Iva Withers (Mrs. Adams), Polly Rowles (Mrs. Margolin), Murray Hamilton (Billy Boylan), Franklin Cover (Eddy Edwards), Glenda Farrell (Maud Hayes), Gretchen Corbett (Trina Stanley), Nancy Marchand (Mrs. Latham), John Cecil Holm (Mr. Latham), and Michael Nouri (Pat). Julie Harris won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, in the lead role and she was succeeded by June Allyson, Joan Fontaine, and Zsa Zsa Gabor throughout the run. The 1973 film adaptation starred Liv Ullmann.

Foscari

Play · 1826

In the Republic of Venice, tensions brew among the elite. Count Erizzo, envious of the Doge's power and coveting the ducal bonnet himself, manipulates the kind but temperamental Senator Donato by exploiting a minor slight: the Doge refuses Donato's request to appoint Erizzo's follower Celso to a vacant procurator post, citing Celso's unsavory character. Erizzo fans Donato's anger, drawing him into a faction plotting to depose the elderly Doge on grounds of incapacity due to age. Meanwhile, the Doge shares with his close friend Count Zeno a mysterious prophecy from his youth foretelling danger to his rule, and he receives an anonymous warning to grant the first boon requested the next day or suffer heartbreak. Donato's daughter Camilla is betrothed to the Doge's valiant son Francesco Foscari, a heroic general fighting in the Milan wars, while Donato's son Cosmo and niece Laura share a budding affection, and Cosmo enjoys the Doge's favor. In the Senate, Erizzo, bolstered by Donato's resentment, accuses the Doge of misrule, favoring the populace over the nobility, and wasting resources on prolonged wars to glorify his son. They propose deposing him, nominating Donato as successor. The plot collapses dramatically when Francesco Foscari returns triumphant from the front, announcing a decisive victory at Brescia, the liberation of the city, and a peace treaty with Milan. He exposes Erizzo's interception of victory dispatches to delay news that would bolster the Doge's popularity. Foscari publicly castigates the conspirators, particularly Donato for betraying his old friend, but reconciles partially with him. The Senate reaffirms the Doge, who retains his position, while Foscari resigns his generalship, symbolically removing the ducal bonnet in a gesture of filial devotion before it is restored. Erizzo, humiliated and thwarted, secretly hires Celso to assassinate Foscari that night during his clandestine meeting with Camilla. Foscari sneaks to Donato's palace for a midnight rendezvous with Camilla, facilitated by the absent Cosmo. A storm rages as they reaffirm their love amid fears of lingering family discord. Foscari escapes through a balcony when Donato stirs, but Celso, mistaking Donato for Foscari in the dark (or perhaps seizing the opportunity), stabs him. Celso plants Foscari's dropped sword and cloak at the scene. Donato's dying cries name "Foscari", and Erizzo, "conveniently" nearby with Cosmo, frames the young hero for the murder. Foscari is tried in a hall of justice presided over by the heartbroken Doge. The evidence—the sword, cloak, Donato's last words, and Erizzo's testimony of seeing Foscari flee—is overwhelming. Cosmo, devastated by his father's death, accuses his childhood friend bitterly. Camilla, summoned as a witness, heard Donato's dying accusation but steadfastly proclaims Foscari's innocence, refusing to condemn him despite pressure. Threatened with torture, Foscari defiantly demands the rack rather than confess falsely. The Senate convicts him but, respecting his and the Doge's stature, commutes death to perpetual exile in Candia. On the seashore, Foscari prepares to depart. Camilla defies Cosmo to accompany her betrothed into exile, enduring her brother's furious denunciation as a parricide's bride. Cosmo pursues her, leading to a duel with the unarmed Foscari (armed by Erizzo). Foscari is mortally wounded. As he dies, Zeno arrives with news that Celso has confessed: Erizzo orchestrated the plot, and Celso killed Donato by mistake while intending Foscari. Erizzo is arrested but gloats over his revenge. The exonerated Foscari dies in Camilla's arms, proclaiming joy at his restored honor. The devastated Doge, cursing the ducal crown that forced him to condemn his innocent son, flings it away and collapses from a broken heart.

Four Winds

Play · 1953

Four Winds is a 1953 thriller play by the British writer Alex Atkinson. A murder mystery it takes place entirely in a cottage on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Brighton before transferring to the Phoenix Theatre in London's West where it ran for 38 performances between 29 September and 31 October 1953. The original cast included William Kendall, Frank Lawton, Raymond Francis, Peggy Evans, Betty Ann Davies and Patricia Cutts. It then went on tour.

Francis the First

Play · 1832

Francis the First is an 1832 historical tragedy written by the British actress Fanny Kemble. It is based on the reign of Francis I of France in the sixteenth century. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 15 March 1832. The original cast included Kemble herself as Louisa of Savoy, Mason as Francis the First, Charles Kemble as Charles of Bourbon, Daniel Egerton as Chabannes, George Bennett as Laval, William Abbot as Clement Marot, Robert Keeley as Triboulet, John Duruset as Bonnivet, James Prescott Warde as Gonzales, Harriette Taylor as Margaret Valois and Ellen Kean as Francois de Foix. Kemble had originally conceived it as a historical novel before converting it into a stage play. Kemble was paid a large sum for the rights by publisher John Murray, and it enjoyed brief success on stage, although she herself was later critical of its "stilted declamation"

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

Play · 1987

The play opens in the dark with a couple making love in her one-room walk-up apartment in the west side of Manhattan. They are Johnny (originated by F. Murray Abraham), a short order cook, and Frankie (originated by Kathy Bates), a waitress. Johnny is certain he has found his soul mate in Frankie. She, on the other hand, is far more cautious and disinclined to jump to conclusions and at first has written off the encounter as a one night stand. As the night unfolds, they slowly reveal themselves to each other as they take tentative steps towards the possible start of a new relationship. Describing the scene from which the play gets its name, David Finkle wrote, "Johnny calls the radio station to request the most beautiful music ever written...Claude Debussy's 'Clair de lune'...floats onto the night air... Johnny, buoyant with love, beckons Frankie to join him at the window and to bask...in the clair de lune. It's a lovely moment..."

Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lunenburgh

Play · 1729

Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lunenburgh is a 1729 historical tragedy by the British writer Eliza Haywood. It is based on the life of medieval ruler Frederick I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Haywood, well-known for her novels, had previously written a comedy A Wife to be Lett in 1723, but in the wake of the theatrical boom following the success of The Beggar's Opera, she produced a second play. Haywood wrote the play in roughly four weeks, and dedicated it to Frederick, Prince of Wales who had recently arrived in Britain from the country from Hanover. It was an effort to secure patronage from the royal family, based on the life of their Guelph ancestor, and was intended to coincide with the celebrations of Queen Caroline's birthday. However it was not a success, lasting for only three nights, something Haywood partly attributed to its lack of royal backing. The original cast included Thomas Walker as Frederick, Lacy Ryan as Duke of Wirtemberg, Thomas Chapman as Ridolpho, James Quin as Count Waldec, William Milward as Anspach, Henrietta Morgan as Sophia, Elizabeth Buchanan as Anna and Anne Berriman as Adelaid.

Fredolfo

Play · 1819

Fredolfo is an 1819 historical tragedy by the Irish writer Charles Maturin. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 12 May 1819. The original cast included William Macready as Wallenberg, Charles Mayne Young as Fredolfo, Charles Kemble as Aldemar, Frederick Henry Yates as Berthold, Charles Connor as Waldo and Elizabeth O'Neill as Urilda. Maturin dedicated the published version to the Duke of Leinster, which was published by Archibald Constable. The work was considered a failure which failed to recaptured the success of his earlier Bertram and Maturin turned back to writing novels.

Friendly Enemies

Play · 1918

Henry Block and Karl Pfeifer are old friends who both immigrated to the United States from Germany. Karl's son Billy and Henry's daughter June are engaged to be married. Henry has assimilated as a patriotic American, including changing his name from Heinrich. Karl refuses to change his name and remains a German patriot. The entry of the United States into World War I against Germany creates conflict between Karl and the others. Karl is secretly giving money to Walter Stuart to fund what Karl thinks is an effort to defuse anti-German propaganda, but Stuart is actually a German agent who uses the money to fund sabotage. Billy enlists in the United States Army against Karl's wishes. When Karl discovers that his money has funded a bomb that sinks the troop transport carrying his son, he changes his position on the war. The play has a happy ending when Billy returns home, having been saved from the sinking ship.

Fucking Men

Play · 2008

Fucking Men is a 2009 American play by Joe DiPietro. It premiered at the King's Head Theatre in the London Borough of Islington, directed by Phil Willmott. It opened on 9 January 2009 and was extended three times due to strong sales, and later ran in repertory with Naked Boys Singing. Both productions transferred to the Arts Theatre in London's West End Theatre on 15 July 2009. It was revived at the King's Head in August 2015, directed by Geoffrey Hyland. It was revived again by the King's Head in December 2015, directed by Mark Barford, designed by Jamie Simmons, lighting by Jack Weir and starring Richard De Lisle, Harper James and Haydn Whiteside. This production played again in London (April/May 2016) and then toured to Dublin (May 2016) and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (August 2016). It played at The Vaults Waterloo until January 15, 2017. It was revived again with a new cast at Waterloo East Theatre from 2023 to 2025. The play had its United States premiere on 11 September 2009 at the Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The production was directed and co-produced by Calvin Remsberg. This production featured Johnny Kostney, Brian Dare, Mike Ciriaco, Michael Rachlis, Sean Galuszka, David Pevsner, Jeff Olsen, A.J. Tannen, Chad Borden and Gregory Franklin.

Gas Light

Play · 1938

The play is set in fog-bound London in 1880, at the upper middle class home of Jack Manningham and his wife Bella. It is late afternoon, a time that Hamilton notes as the time "before the feeble dawn of gaslight and tea." Bella is clearly on edge, and the stern reproaches of her overbearing husband (who flirts with the servants in front of his wife) make matters worse. What most perturbs Bella is Jack's unexplained disappearances from the house: he will not tell her where he is going, and this increases her anxiety. It becomes clear that Jack is intent on convincing Bella that she is going insane, even to the point of assuring her she is imagining things. The appearance of a police detective called Rough leads Bella to realise that Jack is responsible for her torment. Rough explains that the apartment above was once occupied by one Alice Barlow, a wealthy woman who was murdered for her jewels. The murderer was never found. Jack goes to the flat each night to search for the jewels, and lighting the apartment's gas lights causes the lights to dim in the rest of the building. His footsteps in the supposedly empty apartment persuade Bella that she is "hearing things". Rough convinces Bella to assist him in exposing Jack as the murderer, which she does, but not before she takes revenge on Jack by pretending to help him escape. At the last minute she reminds him that, having gone insane, she is not accountable for her actions. The play closes with Jack being led away by the police.

Gem of the Ocean

Play · 2003

The play is set in 1904 at 1839 Wylie Avenue in Pittsburgh's Hill District. Aunt Ester, the drama's 285-year-old fiery matriarch, welcomes into her home Solly Two Kings, who was born into slavery and scouted for the Union Army, and Citizen Barlow, a young man from Alabama searching for a new life and in search of redemption. Aunt Ester is not too old to practice healing; she guides Barlow on a soaring, lyrical journey of spiritual awakening to the City of Bones.

Gemini

Play · 1976

Set in the backyard of a blue-collar neighborhood in South Philadelphia early in the summer of 1973, the comedy-drama focuses on the 21st birthday celebration of Harvard student Francis Geminiani. In attendance are his divorced father Fran and Fran's widowed girlfriend Lucille, next-door neighbor Bunny Weinberger and her overweight son Herschel, and Francis' classmates, the wealthy WASP Hastings siblings; Judith (who seeks romance with Francis) and Randy (the object of Francis' unexpressed affection), who have arrived unexpectedly, much to their friend's dismay. All are dysfunctional to varying degrees, and the interactions among them provide the play with its comic and dramatic moments.

Generation

Play · 1965

Generation is a 1965 Broadway play written lyrics and by William Goodhart, directed by Gene Saks, produced by Frederick Brisson and Victor Samrock, incidental music by Jerry Bock, stage and lighting design by George Jenkins, costume design by Albert Wolsky. Its first preview opened with Henry Fonda in the lead role on September 29, 1965, at the Morosco Theatre. The play official premiered on October 6, 1965, at the same theatre. It ran for 300 performances, and was nominated for a Tony Award in 1966 for the Best Featured Actor in a Play (for A. Larry Haines).

Gentlemen of the Press

Play · 1928

Gentlemen of the Press is a three-act play written by Ward Morehouse. Producers Thomas E. Jackson and H. S. Kraft opened it on Broadway at Henry Miller's Theatre on August 27, 1928. George Abbott directed the production, which ran for 128 performances. The play is a comedy about Wick Snell, a journalist who decides to take a job as a publicist for a real estate firm. After a dispute with his new boss, Snell goes back to journalism. Morehouse was a journalist who had worked for several different newspapers. The main character in Gentlemen of the Press was inspired by one of his co-workers who frequently complained about the difficulties of working in journalism.

George and Margaret

Play · 1937

The play portrays a day in the lives of a middle-class London family and their servants. They are thrown into chaos by the suddenly announced arrival of their old friends George and Margaret for dinner that evening. The snobbish and domineering mother forces all family members to attend, despite the resentment of her children. However, the anticipated arrival eventually provides a catalyst for various members of the family to resolve their personal crises. The play ends without the title characters George and Margaret ever having appeared on stage.

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