Illya Darling
| Illya Darling | |
|---|---|
 Original Cast Recording | |
| Music | Manos Hadjidakis |
| Lyrics | Joe Darion |
| Book | Jules Dassin |
| Basis | Jules Dassin's film Never on Sunday |
| Productions | 1967 Broadway |
Illya Darling is a musical with a book by Jules Dassin, music by Manos Hadjidakis, and lyrics by Joe Darion, based on Dassin's 1960 film Never on Sunday.
Production
The show previewed in a tour of Philadelphia, Toronto and Detroit for nine weeks. After 22 previews, the Broadway production opened on April 11, 1967 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and closed on January 13, 1968, after 320 performances and 22 previews. It was directed by Dassin, choreographed by Onna White, with scenic design by Oliver Smith, costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge, and lighting design by Jean Rosenthal.
Attendance was fueled by the star wattage provided by Melina Mercouri, who was nominated for a Tony Award, in the title role. She had starred in the film, which managed to overcome the mostly lukewarm to negative reviews.[1] Critics found the plot too slight.[2]
Other cast members included Orson Bean as Homer Thrace, Nikos Kourkoulos (who was also nominated for a Tony) in his Broadway debut as Tonio, and Hal Linden as No Face. After closing on Broadway, the show went on tour with Cyd Charisse as Illya.[3]
The production was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best musical, score, direction and choreography, but it did not win any.
The musical was presented by the Greek American Theatre Company of Los Angeles, running March 2003 to May 2003.[2]
Synopsis
Illya, a carefree prostitute, plies her trade in the port town of Piraeus outside Athens. With no set rates, no pimp, and an inclination to sleep only with men she likes, she differs dramatically from the other local ladies-of-the-evening. Their pimp, Garbage, works for the mysterious No Face, who charges the girls exorbitant rents. Into her life comes Homer Thrace, a priggish American in search of the glories of Ancient Greece. Attracted by Illya's physical charms, he decides to teach her about the classics and to help her become a cultured lady, while she in turn introduces him to sensual pleasures. Homer's lesson plan is to separate her from her friends and the virile Tonio. Neither ends up happier.
Song list
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Response
Jack Gaver wrote that although there were attracive things about the musical "it is a fact that any commercial success this new musical may have depends largely upon public interest in its Greek star. Tuesday night's arrival at the Mark Hellinger Theatre lacks solid, over-all appeal, so the international reputation of Miss Mercouri as a movie star with a tremendous sex image and a volatile acting style is really on the line...there is exuberance in the several dance numbers, the score has some rousing numbers and there are excellent portrayals in top roles."[4]
According to Steven Suskin, the musical was "the season's biggest star-vehicle with the biggest advance sale: Melina Mercouri in the "Never on Sunday" musical, Illya Darling. Not so darling, as it turned out; the charm of the 1960 low-budget Greek-language film was overblown into a full-scale Broadway affair with a distinct lack of charm or skill."[5]
Awards and nominations
Original Broadway production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Composer and Lyricist | Manos Hadjidakis and Joe Darion | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Melina Mercouri | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Nikos Kourkoulos | Nominated | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Jules Dassin | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | Onna White | Nominated | ||
References
- ^ "Theater: Gloomy Sunday". TIME.com. 21 April 1967. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ a b Monji, Jane."Curtain up review, 2003 Los Angeles production" curtainup.com, March 15, 2003
- ^ Information about the production and tour zanestein.com
- ^ Gaver, Jack." 'Illya Darling' Depends Largely on Greek Star"St. Petersburg Times', April 13, 1967
- ^ Suskin, Steven."Melina Mercouri as Illya Darling and Steven Pasquale's "Somethin' Like Love" ", playbill.com, April 12, 2009