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Born Yesterday (play)

{{short description|1946 play by Garson Kanin}}

{{Infobox play

| name = Born Yesterday

| image =

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption =

| writer = Garson Kanin

| chorus =

| characters =

| mute =

| setting = Washington, DC. September 1946.

| premiere = {{Start date|1946|02|04}}

| place = Lyceum Theatre
New York City

| orig_lang = English

| series =

| subject =

| genre = Comedy

| web =

}}

Born Yesterday is a play written by Garson Kanin which premiered on Broadway in 1946, starring Judy Holliday as Billie Dawn. The play was adapted into

a successful 1950 film of the same name.

Plot

An uncouth, corrupt rich junk dealer, Harry Brock, brings his showgirl mistress Billie Dawn with him to Washington, D.C. When Billie's ignorance becomes a liability to Brock's business dealings, he hires a journalist, Paul Verrall, to educate his girlfriend. In the process of learning, Billie Dawn realizes how corrupt Harry is and begins interfering with his plans to bribe a Congressman into passing legislation that would allow Brock's business to make more money.

Productions

= 1946 original Broadway =

Born Yesterday opened on February 4, 1946 on Broadway at the Lyceum TheatreNichols, Lewis [https://www.nytimes.com/1946/02/05/archives/the-play-in-review-born-yesterday-comedy-at-lyceum-shows-political.html?sq=%2522Born+Yesterday%2522&scp=2&st=p "The Play In Review; 'Born Yesterday,' Comedy at Lyceum, Shows Political Slant"] New York Times (abstract), February 5, 1946, p. 30 and ran there until November 6, 1948; the play transferred to Henry Miller's Theatre on November 9, 1948 and closed on December 31, 1949, after a total of 1,642 performances.Calta, Louis.[https://www.nytimes.com/1949/12/24/archives/born-yesterday-to-end-run-dec-31-kanin-comedy-on-boards-since-46.html "'Born Yesterday' To End Run Dec. 31; Kanin Comedy, on Boards Since 46, Will Leave Local Scene After 1,642 Performances"] New York Times (abstract), December 24, 1949, p. 10 {{asof|2019}} it was the seventh longest-running non-musical play in Broadway history.{{Cite book|title=In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway's Hit Plays|last=Schildcrout|first=Jordan|publisher=Routledge|year=2019|isbn=978-0367210908|location=New York and London|pages=87}} Judy Holliday starred as Billie, with Paul Douglas as Harry Brock and Gary Merrill as Paul Verrall. Written and directed by Garson Kanin, the scenic design was by Donald Oenslager and costume design by Ruth Kanin.[http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=1768 Born Yesterday, 1946] Internet Broadway Database, accessed June 16, 2011 Jean Arthur was originally cast in the role of Billie but quit during tryouts.Bordman, Gerald Martin and Hischak Thomas S. [https://books.google.com/books?id=DiI1wIyatvUC&pg=PA86 "Born Yesterday"] The Oxford Companion to American Theatre, Oxford University Press US, 2004, {{ISBN|0-19-516986-7}}, p. 86

For his performance as Harry Brock, Paul Douglas was awarded the 1946 Clarence Derwent Award for the most promising male performance.[http://www.actorsequity.org/AboutEquity/EquityAwards/derwent_award2007.asp "The Clarence Derwent Award, 1946"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025103344/http://actorsequity.org/AboutEquity/EquityAwards/derwent_award2007.asp |date=2010-10-25 }} actorsequity.org, accessed June 18, 2011

;Original Broadway cast

Judy Holliday appeared as Billie Dawn in over 1,200 performances.Schildcrout, p. 91. Her replacements in the role included Jean Hagen and Jan Sterling.

= 1947 original West End =

The first British production of the play was directed and presented by Laurence Olivier, designed by Roger Furse, and made a star of Yolande Donlan. It began a regional tour on November 18, 1946,'Glasgow Premiere: Born Yesterday', The Stage, November 21, 1946, p.7. reaching London's Garrick Theatre on January 23, 1947'The Garrick: Born Yesterday', The Stage, January 30, 1947, p.1. and playing until November 15, 1947.'Jack's Ace', London Evening News, November 15, 1947, p.2

;Original West End cast

= Revival by Princeton University's Summer Theater in 1950 =

A production staged at Princeton University's McCarter Theatre, directed by Herbert Kenwith and starring Shelley Winters as Billie Dawn and Judson Pratt as Harry Brock, debuted June 19, 1950 and was enthusiastically received by Daily Home News critic Jack Lewis, who notes that "Kenwith's direction is in no small way responsible for the success of the show. More notable, however, is his selection of Shelley Winters and Judson Pratt to play the key roles. And their handling of these assignments is what made 'Born Yesterday' a laugh-filled experience for last night's audience."{{Cite news|title=Shelley Winters in Laugh Hit as Princeton Summer Show Opens|author=Lewis, Jack|date=June 20, 1950|work=The Daily Home News|page=6|quote=Kenwith's direction is in no small way responsible for the success of the show. More notable, however, is his selection of Shelley Winters and Judson Pratt to play the key roles. And their handling of these assignements is what made 'Born Yesterday' a laugh-filled experience for last night's audience. [...] Judson Pratt handles the role of Harry Brock in a manner reminiscent of Paul Douglas, who used it as a springboard to bigger and better paying things.|id={{ProQuest|2265373739}}}} A brief tour of New England venues—necessarily limited by Winters' prior commitment{{Cite news|title=Legitimate: Atlantic City Gets Barn; Arena For Albany Area; Bucks, Circus Perk; Brattleboro Bows July 12|author=|date=June 21, 1950|work=Variety|page=43|quote=Pratt opened last week in 'Born Yesterday' opposite Shelley Winters at Princeton, N. J. and will tour with the film star until she sails for Europe in the middle of July.|id={{ProQuest|1285960136}}}}—ensued, to similarly glowing reviews.{{Cite news|title=Ivoryton Playhouse|author=T. D. S.|date=July 15, 1950|work=The Hartford Courant|page=4|quote=The role of the 'dumb blonde' who, in the final analysis, proves not so dumb after all, is an ideal one for Miss Winters and she makes the most of her opportunities, which are plentiful. Judson Pratt is outstanding as the rough and ready millionaire who thinks that all you need to get what you want in Washington is plenty of money and a lot of bluster.|id={{ProQuest|561413311}}}}{{Cite news|title=Shelley Winters Has a Field Day at Beverly in 'Born Yesterday'|author=P. W. C.|date=July 18, 1950|work=The Boston Daily Globe|page=9|quote=|id={{ProQuest|821386735}}}}

= Revival by the Negro Drama Group in 1953–54 =

A production mounted by the Negro Drama Group at Broadway's President Theatre, starring Edna Mae Robinson as Billie Dawn, Powell Lindsay as Harry Brock and Henry Scott as Paul Verrall, was given a full review in The New York Times on January 1, 1954, with the theatre critic (signature L. C.) mentioning that "...Mrs. Robinson is in private life the wife of Sugar Ray Robinson, the former welterweight and middleweight champion of the world" and that she "...is possessed of a natural flair for comedy. With some judicious direction she could go a long way toward achieving spectacular success in the theatre."{{cite news |title=AT THE THEATRE / Garson Kanin's 'Born Yesterday' Is Revived Here by Negro Troop Led by Edna Mae Robinson|work=The New York Times|author=L. C.|date=January 1, 1954|access-date=February 17, 2019| url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/01/01/83743627.html?pageNumber=16}} Although the production received positive reviews, it closed after five days.{{Cite journal|date=January 14, 1954|title='Born Yesterday' Folds|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4b8DAAAAMBAJ&q=edna+mae+robinson+jet+1954&pg=PA31|journal=Jet|pages=31}}

= Watergate era =

According to theatre scholar Jordan Schildcrout, the Watergate scandal brought renewed interest in Born Yesterday, with a surge of productions in the early 1970s starring Betty Grable, Sandy Dennis, Chita Rivera, and Karen Valentine at major regional theatres, as well as Lynn Redgrave in a London revival directed by Tom Stoppard.{{Cite book|title=In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway's Hit Plays|last=Schildcrout|first=Jordan|publisher=Routledge|year=2019|isbn=978-0367210908|location=New York and London|pages=95}} The critic Michael Billington noted, "With the Watergate scandal coming to a head, the play suddenly seems as fresh and relevant as the day it was written."{{Cite news|title=Review: Born Yesterday|last=Billington|first=Michael|date=21 April 1973|work=The Guardian}} Kanin himself later asserted, "When the play was written it was a fable, but after Watergate it became a documentary."{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/21/theater/theater-born-yesterday-is-reborn-in-chicago.html |first=Eugene |last=Kennedy |title='Born Yesterday' Reborn in Chicago |page=5 (Section 2) |newspaper=The New York Times |date=21 February 1988 |access-date=2023-05-18}}

= 1989 Broadway revival =

The play was revived on Broadway in 1989. It opened at the 46th Street Theatre in previews on January 18, 1989, officially on January 29, 1989,Rich, Frank.[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/30/arts/review-theater-right-thinking-ingenuousness-cleans-up-a-nation.html "Review/Theater; Right-Thinking Ingenuousness Cleans Up a Nation"] New York Times, January 30, 1989 and closed on June 11, 1989 after 153 performances.[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/10/theater/born-yesterday-closing.html?scp=1&sq=%22Born+Yesterday%22&st=nyt "'Born Yesterday' Closing"] New York Times, June 10, 1989 It was directed by Josephine R. Abady and starred Edward Asner and Madeline Kahn, who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play.[http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4529 Born Yesterday, 1989] Internet Broadway Database, accessed June 16, 2011

;1989 revival cast

Source:New York Times

= 2011 Broadway revival =

The second Broadway revival opened at the Cort Theatre for previews 31 March 2011, performances began on April 24, 2011. The show closed on 26 June 2011 after 28 previews and 73 performances. Directed by Doug Hughes, the play starred Jim Belushi as Harry Brock, Nina Arianda as Billie Dawn and Robert Sean Leonard as Paul Verrall.Jones, Kenneth.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/150119-A-New-Dawn-for-Billie-Born-Yesterday-With-Nina-Arianda-Robert-Sean-Leonard-Jim-Belushi-Opens "A New Dawn for Billie: 'Born Yesterday', With Nina Arianda, Robert Sean Leonard, Jim Belushi, Opens"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702075805/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/150119-A-New-Dawn-for-Billie-Born-Yesterday-With-Nina-Arianda-Robert-Sean-Leonard-Jim-Belushi-Opens |date=July 2, 2011 }} playbill.com, April 24, 2011

The 2011 revival was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play and Best Costume Design of a Play (Catherine Zuber).Jones, Kenneth and Gans, Andrew.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/150437-2011-Tony-Nominations-Announced-Book-of-Mormon-Earns-14-Nominations "2011 Tony Nominations Announced; Book of Mormon Earns 14 Nominations"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914233343/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/150437-2011-Tony-Nominations-Announced-Book-of-Mormon-Earns-14-Nominations |date=September 14, 2011 }} playbill.com, May 3, 2011

;2011 revival cast

  • Jim Belushi as Harry Brock
  • Nina Arianda as Billie Dawn
  • Frank Wood as Ed Devery
  • Robert Sean Leonard as Paul Verrall
  • Michael McGrath as Eddie Brock
  • Liv Rooth as A Manicurist
  • Patricia Hodges as Mrs. Hedges
  • Jennifer Regan as Helen, a maid
  • Fred Arsenault as Bellhop #1
  • Danny Rutigliano as Bellhop #2/Bootblack
  • Bill Christ as A Bellhop #3/Barber
  • Andrew Weems as The Assistant Manager
  • Terry Beaver as Senator Norval Hedges

Film adaptations

The 1950 film adaptation, made by Columbia Pictures with direction by George Cukor starred Judy Holliday and William Holden.[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/69435/born-yesterday "'Born Yesterday', 1950"] tcm.com, accessed June 18, 2011 A 1993 remake directed by Luis Mandoki and released through Buena Vista Pictures, starred Melanie Griffith as Billie Dawn and updated the plot.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106466/ "'Born Yesterday', 1993"] Internet Movie Database, accessed June 18, 2011

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Born Yesterday}}

  • {{IBDB show|2149}}

{{Garson Kanin}}

Category:1946 plays

Category:American plays adapted into films

Category:Broadway plays

Category:Works by Garson Kanin

Category:Plays originally directed by Garson Kanin