The Philanthropist (play)
| The Philanthropist | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Christopher Hampton |
| Date premiered | March 15, 1971 |
| Place premiered | Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway, New York City, New York |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | The Misanthrope |
The Philanthropist is a play by Christopher Hampton, written as a response to Molière's The Misanthrope. After a tryout at the Royal Court Theatre, London, the piece premiered on Broadway under the direction of Robert Kidd. Kidd had collaborated with Hampton on When Did You Last See Your Mother? (1964), which had also been staged at the Royal Court Theatre.
Described by Hampton as a "bourgeois comedy", the piece is set in an "English University Town".The Philanthropist demonstrated Hampton's ability "to write witty, subtle and revealing dialogue."
A CurtainUp! review gave the following summary:
A small tryout production was staged in London at the Royal Court Theatre in 1970. A further revised production played in 1970 at the May Fair Theatre in London.The Philanthropist then premiered on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on March 15, 1971, following previews from March 11. The cast featured Alec McCowen in the lead role; David Merrick and Michael Codron produced.
The Broadway production ran for 64 performances, closing on May 15, 1971. The New York Times described it as "a good evening of high-class theatrical highjinks that says more than might be seen on the surface". The show was nominated for three Tony Awards, including the 1971 Tony Award for Best Play, and McCowen won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance.Robert Kidd directed the production, which featured set design by John Gunter, costumes by Sara Brook, and lighting by Lloyd Burlingame.
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