The Time of the Cuckoo is a play byArthur Laurents. It focuses on the bittersweet romance between Leona Samish (Shirley Booth), a single American executive secretary vacationing in Europe and Renato Di Rossi, a shopkeeper she meets inVenice. 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 byHarold Clurman. The play opened at theEmpire Theater on October 15, 1952, and closed on May 30, 1953, after 263 performances. The theatre was demolished shortly after the play closed.[1]
The play was adapted for the screen under the titleSummertime (starringKatharine Hepburn andRossano Brazzi) and titled in Great Britain asSummer Madness in 1955, directed by British directorDavid Lean (Lawrence of Arabia,Doctor Zhivago). In 1965, it was adapted into the Broadway musicalDo I Hear a Waltz? with a book by Laurents, music byRichard Rodgers and lyrics byStephen Sondheim.
Bethel Leslie replaced Geraldine Brooks andKeith Green replaced Jose Perez later in the off-Broadway revival.
John Serry, Sr. performed as the concert accordionist and soloist in the orchestra.[3][4][5]
Shirley Booth won theTony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play.
The York Theatre Company in Manhattan mounted a production of the play for 16 performances in early 1986. Stuart Howard directed a cast that includedMichael Learned,George Guidall, andDebra Jo Rupp.[6]
In 2000, the play was revived for a limited run from January 27 to May 7 at theMitzi E. Newhouse Theater located inLincoln Center. The production, with a revised script by Laurents, was directed by Nicholas Martin. The cast includedDebra Monk (who won anObie Award for her performance),Olek Krupa,Tom Aldredge, andPolly Holliday.Theoni V. Aldredge designed the costumes.[7]
In February 2011, the play was revived for a limited run at the Tap House Grill Theatre in downtown Oswego, Illinois by The Oswego Playhouse. The cast included Beth Goncher, Jill Orr, Steve Fiorito, Brent Miller, Lynn Meredith, Kelly Cash, Brandon Miller, Cole Perkins, Jim Stott and Sharon Pagoria. The production was directed by Daina Gielser.[8]