Last of the Red Hot Lovers is a comedy by Neil Simon. It premiered on Broadway in 1969.
Production The play opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on December 28, 1969, and closed on September 4, 1971, after 706 performances and six previews.Last of the Red Hot Lovers Listing playbillvault.com, accessed April 8, 2012 Directed by Robert Moore, the original cast featured James Coco, Linda Lavin (as Elaine), Doris Roberts (as Jeannette), and Marcia Rodd (as Bobbi).Barnes, Clive. "Stage: 'Red Hot Lovers': Comedy by Neil Simon Opens at the O'Neill", The New York Times, December 29, 1969, p. 37 The scenic design was by Oliver Smith, the costumes by Donald Brooks, and the lighting by Peggy Clark.
Later in the run, Dom DeLuise replaced Coco, Cathryn Damon and then Rita Moreno replaced Lavin, and Barbara Sharma replaced Rodd.
The play, Coco, Lavin, and Moore all were nominated for Tony Awards."Tony Awards, 1970 Listing" broadwayworld.com, accessed April 8, 2012
Plot overview Barney Cashman, a middle-aged, married nebbish wants to join the sexual revolution before it is too late. A gentle soul with no experience in adultery, he fails in each of three seductions:
Elaine Navazio, a sexpot who likes cigarettes, whiskey, and other women's husbands; Bobbi Michele, an actress friend whom he discovers is madder than a hatter; and Jeannette Fisher, his wife's best friend, a staunch moralist.
Adaptations Simon adapted his play for a 1972 film directed by Gene Saks. The cast featured Alan Arkin, Sally Kellerman (as Elaine), Paula Prentiss (as Bobbi), and Renée Taylor (as Jeanette).Greenspun, Roger. "Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972). Screen: 'Last of the Red Hot Lovers' at Music Hall" The New York Times, August 18, 1872
A Chinese adaptation, starring the husband-wife team of Xu Zheng and Tao Hong (who played all 3 seductresses), was so well received in China that the couple performed the play over 30 times in 2005 and 2006.
In 1999 a North American Tour starring Gary Burghoff played throughout the US and Canada. The show was produced by William and Sally Rogers and in addition to Burghoff featured Sherry Lubov-Ripps, Genah Gale and Nancy Marvy.
Reception Clive Barnes, in his review in The New York Times, wrote: "He is as witty as ever...but he is now controlling that special verbal razzle-dazzle that has at times seemed mechanically chill... There is the dimension of humanity to its humor so that you can love it as well as laugh at it."
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