''Prelude to a Kiss'' is a 1988 play by Craig Lucas. The play, with a runtime of roughly 70 minutes, tells the story of Peter and Rita, a couple that falls in love despite the woman's pessimistic fear of the world. Shortly after their wedding, a supernatural event tests the strength of their love and commitment to each other. When it premiered, it was considered by many critics to be an allegory for couples affected by the AIDS crisis.Hebert, Jame
"Lucas' 'Prelude to a Kiss' gets a nimble staging in Carlsbad"
Union-Tribune, San Diego, April 22, 2008. A preview version of the play premiered on January 15, 1988, in Costa Mesa, California, directed by Norman René. Following this, the play was revised and made its official debut on March 14, 1990, in New York City. The revised, official version was directed by Réné, with

Alec Baldwin Alexander Rae Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. In his early career, Baldwin played both leading and supporting roles in a variety of films such as Tim Burton's '' Beetlejuice'' (1988), Mike Nic ...

and Mary-Louise Parker as Peter and Rita. The title is taken from the 1938 torch song of the same title by

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...

. The play was later adapted into a 1992 film of the same title. Lucas adapted the play into a screenplay himself, and the play's original director Norman René. Alec Baldwin returned to play the role of Peter for the film, while Rita was played by Meg Ryan.

Plot synopsis

Peter is a self-conscious employee at a publishing firm who attends a party. There he meets Rita, a seemingly carefree part-time bartender who hopes to be a graphic designer. The two realize a mutual attraction and begin dating. Over time, Rita reveals her fears about the world, and her hesitancy to invest in joy or dreams when she expects bad things are more likely to happen than good. Despite this, she falls in love with Peter and agrees to marry him. Some time later, the two marry. At their wedding reception, they encounter an unknown Old Man who was passing by and wanted to wish the couple good luck. The Old Man asks to kiss the bride before he leaves and Rita agrees, charmed. As they kiss, Rita and the Old Man magically exchange bodies. Confused and disoriented, Rita wanders away, now inhabiting an elderly male form, while "Rita" and Peter embark on a honeymoon in Jamaica. During the trip, Peter is confused by his wife's new personality and inability to remember basic details of her own life. When they return home, "Rita" seems back to her old self and kisses Peter. After the kiss, Peter realizes this isn't his wife and concludes the impostor read Rita's diary to better masquerade as her. Panicked, he demands her return then leaves the apartment. At the bar where Rita worked, Peter sees the Old Man from the wedding reception. They talk and Peter realizes this is the real Rita, who has been living as the Old Man (whose name is Julius). They hope to make another body swap, but discover the Old Man has fled to stay with Rita's parents the Boyles, telling them the marriage is in turmoil and separation is needed. Peter meets Leah, Julius's daughter, and learns the Old Man is a retired widower who has terminal cancer, with maybe a year left to live. As they consider what to do, Peter and Rita live together as a couple again. Rita now appreciates life more deeply, while Peter realizes he loves her despite the shell she inhabits changing how they relate physically. Peter and Rita finally confront Julius, but the Old Man himself isn't sure how to cause the body swap. He came upon their wedding by chance and envied the bride's youth due to his fear of dying. Rita realizes that during their kiss, she had felt envy for the Old Man as well, wishing she could be someone who had already survived into old age despite any obstacles. As the two realize they no longer have the fears they felt that day, Rita and Julius exchange souls again. Julius takes his leave as Rita and Peter reunite.

Original cast

Costa Mesa Performance: * Mark Arnott as Peter * Lisa Zane as Rita * Frank Hamilton as Old Man * Hal Landon, Jr. as Dr. Boyle * Teri Ralston as Mrs. Boyle * Michael Canavan as Taylor * John-David Keller as Minister * Art Koustik as Tom * Roberta Farkas as Aunt Dorothy * Mary Anne McGarry as Leah Revised Play, New York Premiere: *

as Peter * Mary-Louise Parker as Rita *

Barnard Hughes Bernard Aloysius Kiernan Hughes (July 16, 1915 – July 11, 2006), known professionally as Barnard Hughes, was an American actor of television, theater and film. Hughes became famous for a variety of roles; his most notable roles came after m ...

as Old Man * Larry Bryggman as Dr. Boyle * Debra Monk as Mrs. Boyle * John Dossett as Taylor * Craig Brockhorn as Minister * L. Peter Callender as Tom/Jamaican Waiter * Joyce Reehling as Aunt Dorothy/Leah * Michael Warren Powell as Uncle Fred * Kimberly Dudwitt, Pete Tyler as Ensemble

Dramatic analysis

Critic

Frank Rich Frank Hart Rich Jr. (born 1949) is an American essayist and liberal op-ed columnist, who held various positions within ''The New York Times'' from 1980 to 2011. He has also produced television series and documentaries for HBO. Rich is curren ...

wrote: "...this play can be taken as an indirect treatment of IDS The epidemic is to Mr. Lucas what Babi Yar was to

D. M. Thomas Donald Michael Thomas (born 27 January 1935), is a British poet, translator, novelist, editor, biographer and playwright. His work has been translated into 30 languages. Working primarily as a poet throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Thomas's 1981 ...

, and Peter's fidelity to his true love's soul is transparent.Rich, Fran
"Prelude to a Kiss, a Fairy Tale Of Souls in Love and in Flight"
''The New York Times'', March 15, 1990. Critic James Hebert wrote: "When it premiered in 1990 it was widely presumed to be an oblique response to the ravages of AIDS. Long removed from that time, it becomes a broader commentary on eternal topics like the limits of love and the meaning of commitment."

Productions

The play was commissioned and originally staged by South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa,

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

in January 1988. After revisions to the script and direction, the official version opened

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 th ...

at Circle Repertory Company on March 14, 1990 (February 20 previews) starring

, Mary-Louise Parker, Debra Monk, L. Peter Callender, Craig Bockhorn, Michael Warren Powell and John Dossett, and directed by Norman René, who had directed at South Coast Repertory. After receiving rave reviews, the production moved to the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway, on May 1, 1990, with Timothy Hutton replacing Baldwin. Other cast members included

, Debra Monk, John Dossett, and Larry Bryggman. The play closed on May 19, 1991, after 440 performances, received a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

nomination as Best Play, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. A revival was produced in 2003 at the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, California. A revival opened on Broadway at the

American Airlines Theatre The American Airlines Theatre, originally the Selwyn Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 227 West 42nd Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Built in 1918, it was designed by George Keister and developed by br ...

on March 8, 2007, produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company.

Alan Tudyk Alan Wray Tudyk ( ;; born March 16, 1971) is an American actor. His film work includes roles in '' 28 Days'' with Sandra Bullock (2000), ''A Knight's Tale'' with Heath Ledger (2001), '' Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story'' with Vince Vaughn (2004) ...

Annie Parisse Anne Marie Cancelmi (born July 31, 1975), known professionally as Annie Parisse, is an American actress. She portrayed Alexandra Borgia on the drama series ''Law & Order''. Parisse has also starred as Julia Snyder on the soap opera ''As the Wor ...

and

John Mahoney Charles John Mahoney (June 20, 1940 – February 4, 2018) was an English-born American actor. He was known for playing Martin Crane on the NBC sitcom '' Frasier'' (1993–2004), and won a Screen Actors Guild Award for the role in 2000. Mahon ...

starred in the lead roles, with Robin Bartlett, James Rebhorn, and Matthew Rauch in the featured supporting cast. The show was directed by Daniel Sullivan with original music by John Gromada, scenery by Santo Loquasto, costumes by Jane Greenwood, and lighting by Donald Holder.Sommer, Elys
"A CurtainUp Review:Prelude to a Kiss"
curtainup.com, March 9, 2007 A film version came out in 1992 starring

and Meg Ryan.

References

External links

*{{IBDB show, 7220, Prelude to a Kiss 1988 plays Plays by Craig Lucas Fiction about body swapping Broadway plays American plays adapted into films Magic realism plays