The season for comedy was better than most. It began with the Irish playwright Brendan Behan's untidy but often hilarious "The Hostage" boosted by Joan Littlewood's brilliant direction.
Neil Simon made his Broadway debut with the flimsy but hilariously funny "Come Blow Your Horn" and began his career as Broadway's top comedy playright. Jean Kerr gave us the delightfully witty "Mary, Mary" which became the comedy smash hit of the season, and "Rhinoceros" was Eugene Ionesco's dark comedic look at the human race shot into orbit by Zero Mostel's memorable performance.
"Period Of Adjustment" proved that Tennessee Williams[ talented as he is ]was out of his element trying to write a comedy, and "Under The Yum Yum Tree", Send Me No Flowers", "Critics Choice" and "Invitation To A March" had their good points but just were not good enough to compete with the better shows, and "Midgie Purvis" was a rickety comedy even with the great Tallulah Bankhead's brilliantly enthusiastic performance in the title role.
For revues we had "Vintage 60"which was friendly but totally out of place on Broadway and "Show Girl" with Carol Channing brilliantly comic in a number of funny sketches, but it was Mike Nichols and Elaine May with their hilarious two person revue that gave me my best Broadway experience that year. Just two people surrounded by talent.
There were two notable events Off-Broadway. The Phoenix Theatre,s mesmerizing take on "Hamlet" with Donald Madden giving a fine performance in the title role and Gene Genet's stunning play "The Blacks" beautifully directed by Gene Frankel.
For this incurable theatre geek it was a totally worthwhile season.
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Thanks for the memories Jeff.
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