A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Time of the Cuckoo

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  5w, 5m

From the bookwriter of Gypsy comes this bittersweet 1952 play tracing the romance between American executive secretary Leona Samish and Renato Di Rossi, a shopkeeper she meets in Venice.

The Time of the Cuckoo

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
Also Available

Details

Summary
Leona Samish, a single American woman of a "certain age" takes a long-planned European vacation from her job as a secretary and finds herself in a pensione in Venice, Italy. At a street market, she meets the handsome proprietor Renato DiRossi, entering into a casual flirtation which turns into an affair. Her complacency is jolted when she discovers he is married, has several children and is quite happy with the arrangement as is. Long-dormant frustrations and anger come to the surface as Leona faces the harsh reality of this new found infatuation and her own romantic notions of love. Shirley Booth and later Katharine Hepburn ("Summertime") played the leading role.
History
The Time of the Cuckoo opened at the Empire Theater in New York City in October 1952. The play was adapted for the screen by Laurents under the title Summertime in 1955, and for the musical stage as Do I Hear a Waltz? in 1965, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

LEONA SAMISH
JUNE YAEGER
RENATO DI ROSSI
EDDIE YAEGER
SIGNORA FIORA
GIOVANNA
MAURO
MR. MCILHENNY
VITO
MRS. MCILHENNY

  • Time Period 1950s
  • Setting The garden of the Pensione Fioria, Venice.
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“An adult and incisive comedy drama.” - N.Y. Journal American
“A lovely play.” - N.Y. Times
[Mr. Laurents] gives truly organic and particular life to the play's basic arguments.” - N.Y. Times

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Arthur Laurents

Arthur Laurents (1917-2011) was the author of musical plays such as West Side Story, Gypsy, Anyone Can Whistle, Do I Hear A Waltz?, Hallelujah Baby! (1967 Tony Award For Best Musical) and Nick & Nora; and the screenplays The Snake Pit, Rope, Caught, Anastasia, Bonjour Tristes ...

View full profile

Now Playing