Drawing on letters and journal entries of the two writers, the play is produced by Philip Margaman, Emily Miller and Frankie J. Grande. It's the continuation of the yearlong celebration of the late prolific playwright and director Kanin.
Remembering Mr. Maugham is a stage adaptation of Kanin's own memoir of the same name. The play was performed by Kanin (as himself) with Dennis King as Somerset Maugham in various venues including The Players in New York (1967), the Library of Congress (1969) and Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum.
It's billed as a "graceful memoir" that offers "a treasure trove of private conversations, amusing anecdotes and candid recollections of his beloved friend and confidant W. Somerset Maugham. Through decades of personal notes and journal entries, Kanin and Maugham poignantly reminisce about life, art and the unconquerable human spirit. [It's] one writer's journey through the twilight years of another, whose personal life was as intriguing and creative as the work he left behind."
Directed by Tony Speciale, Remembering Mr. Maugham has scenic and costume design by Daniel Zimmerman and lighting by Natalie Robin.
Garson Kanin (1912-1999) might be best known as the writer and director of Born Yesterday. With Ruth Gordon, whom he married in 1942, he wrote the Academy-Award nominated screenplays "A Double Life," "Adam's Rib" and "Pat and Mike." Kanin was also a novelist and memoirist. His books include "Smash," "Hollywood" and "Tracy and Hepburn." Gordon died in 1985, and Kanin married Marian Seldes in 1990. He died at his home in New York in 1999. Visit www.garsonkanin.com. W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) was a prolific British writer of plays, novels, short stories and essays. The novel "Of Human Bondage" (1915), draws largely from Maugham's personal experience as a struggling medical student and writer in London and Paris. His works include "Moon and Sixpence," "Ashenden" and "The Razor's Edge," plus the short stories "Rain" and "The Letter" (which were made into films).
Lunney's credits include Broadway's Mauritius, Deuce, Democracy, The Graduate, A Doll's House, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Devil's Disciple and The Night of the Iguana. Tsoutsouvas (Somerset Maugham) appeared in Broadway's By Jeeves, Dracula and Our Country's Good, and toured in Peter Hall's Amadeus (as Salieri) in the 1980s.
Remembering Mr. Maugham plays at the Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row, 140 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenue.
The performance schedule is March 4 at 8 PM, March 5 at 8 PM, March 6 at 3 PM and 8 PM, March 7 at 3 PM, March 10 at 3 PM, March 11 at 8 PM, March 12 at 8 PM and March 13 at 3 PM & 8 PM.
Tickets are $18 and may be purchased online at www.ticketcentral.com, 24 hours a day, seven days a week or by phoning Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200.
