''Serenading Louie'' is a 1976 play by Lanford Wilson.

Production history

The 1976

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

production of ''Serenading Louie'' played at the Circle Repertory Company from May 2 to May 30, 1976. Marshall W. Mason won an

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for his direction. The cast included Tanya Berezin as Mary, Trish Hawkins as Gabrielle, Edward J. Moore as Carl, and Michael Storm as Alex. The production was designed by John Lee Beatty, with costumes by Jennifer von Mayrhauser and lighting by Dennis Parichy. In 1984, a production was staged at The Public Theater, opening January 17, 1984. The cast included Lindsay Crouse, Jimmie Ray Weeks,

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, and Dianne Wiest, who won an

for her performance. The production was directed by John Tillinger, with lighting design by Richard Nelson. A revival was staged at London's Donmar Warehouse in 2010, running from February 11 until March 27. The production then toured to Salford,

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, and Truro. The cast included Jason Butler Harner as Alex, Jason O'Mara as Carl, Charlotte Emmerson as Gabrielle, and Geraldine Somerville as Mary. The production was directed by Simon Curtis, with design by

Peter McKintosh Peter McKintosh is a British theatre set and costume designer. Background He obtained a degree in Theatre Studies at the University of Warwick and then trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His work as an assistant to Mark Thompso ...

Plot summary

The story involves two couples, appearing to live well in identical houses in the

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. However, neither couple is happy in their marriage. An affair is being carried on secretly within this foursome, leading to a very violent conclusion.

Critical reception

In her review in '' The Guardian'', Lyn Gardner stated, "This is the stuff of boulevard drama, and dressing it up with Ayckbourn-style tricks of two couples in one space, or theatrical asides, doesn't make it any more interesting". She later added that "the failure of the words to explode even during the final melodramatic moments is symptomatic of this play's ashen emptiness."Gardner, Lyn
Review
in '' The Guardian'' (2010).

References

External links

*
Donmar Warehouse production page''Serenading Louie'' at the Donmar Warehouse
* Notes and drafts for ''Serenading Louie'' are held in th
Lanford Wilson Collection
at the University of Missouri Libraries {{Lanford Wilson 1970 plays Off-Broadway plays Plays by Lanford Wilson