Original Production The play premièred at the
Aldwych Theatre in London's
West End, produced as part of the
Royal Shakespeare Companys London Season, in October 1964 and featured
David Warner,
Donald Sinden and
Janet Suzman and was directed by
Peter Hall.
Subsequent productions Two years later it opened
Off-Broadway at the
Circle in the Square Downtown on Bleecker Street on October 16, 1966. The production was directed by
Alan Arkin, using the pseudonym "Roger Short". Arkin had stepped in as director about two weeks before it opened and after two directors had quit. He used a pseudonym because he was under contract to begin direction of
Hail Scrawdyke! only a week later. The
US production starred
Dustin Hoffman as Valentine Brose, Alexandra Berlin as Betty Dorrick,
Dana Elcar as Price, Carl Gabler as Aly,
Joseph Maher as Reverend Mort and
Elizabeth Wilson as Mrs. Murray. The play was the first major critical success in Hoffman's career, garnering him a
Theatre World Award and
Drama Desk Award for his performance. Livings won an
Obie Award for Best Play. This production closed on May 24, 1967, after 233 performances. == Film adaptation ==