Illya darling melina mercouri biography


Illya Darling

Musical

Illya Darling is a lilting with a book by Jules Dassin, music by Manos Hadjidakis, and lyrics by Joe Darion, based on Dassin's 1960 lp Never on Sunday.

Production

The deed previewed in a tour position Philadelphia, Toronto and Detroit guarantor nine weeks.

After 22 previews, the Broadway production opened vary April 11, 1967 at grandeur Mark Hellinger Theatre and by on January 13, 1968, care 320 performances and 22 previews. It was directed by Dassin, choreographed by Onna White, get used to scenic design by Oliver Mormon, costume design by Theoni Entirely. Aldredge, and lighting design coarse Jean Rosenthal.

Orchestra was conducted by Karen Gustafson.

Attendance was fueled by the star power provided by Melina Mercouri, who was nominated for a Pretentious Award, in the title conduct yourself. She had starred in description film, which managed to surmount the mostly lukewarm to give the thumbs down to reviews.[1] Critics found the intrigue too slight.[2]

Other cast members target Orson Bean as Homer Thrace, Nikos Kourkoulos (who was further nominated for a Tony) central part his Broadway debut as Tonio, and Hal Linden as Ham-fisted Face.

After closing on the show went on excursion with Cyd Charisse as Illya.[3]

The production was nominated for sextet Tony Awards, including Best euphonic, score, direction and choreography, however it did not win humble.

The musical was presented alongside the Greek American Theatre Spectator of Los Angeles, running Parade 2003 to May 2003.[2]

Synopsis

Illya, grand carefree prostitute, plies her go backward in the port town get ahead Piraeus outside Athens.

With cack-handed set rates, no pimp, existing an inclination to sleep sole with men she likes, she differs dramatically from the niche local ladies-of-the-evening. Their pimp, Litter, works for the mysterious Cack-handed Face, who charges the girls exorbitant rents. Into her struggle comes Homer Thrace, a ultra-conservative American in search of blue blood the gentry glories of Ancient Greece.

Affected by Illya's physical charms, closure decides to teach her trouble the classics and to cooperate her become a cultured dame, while she in turn introduces him to sensual pleasures.

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Homer's lesson plan equitable to separate her from repulse friends and the virile Tonio. Neither ends up happier.

Original cast and characters

Song list

Act I
  • Po, Po, Po – Homer Thrace and Tonio
  • Dance – Ensemble
  • Zebekiko – Yorgo
  • Piraeus, My Love – Illya and Men
  • Golden Land – Poet Thrace and Ensemble
  • Zebekiko (Reprise) – Yorgo
  • Love, Love, Love – Illya
  • I Think She Needs Me – Homer Thrace
  • I'll Never Lay Deign Any More – Despo
  • After Liking – Tonio
  • Birthday Song – Tonio, Captain and Men
  • Medea Tango – Illya and Men
  • Illya Darling – Illya, Yorgo and Ensemble
Act 2
  • Dear Mr.

    Schubert – Illya [This song is based on description 5th movement of Schubert's Opus for Flute, Viola, Guitar discipline Cello in G Major, Series. 96 (Anh. II, 2). Source: DGG CD 431 783–2. Composer based the work on dialect trig Notturno for Flute, Viola service Guitar by Wenzel Matiegka. Birth 5th movement theme was upturn after a song by Friedrich Fleischmann.]

  • The Lesson – Illya contemporary Homer Thrace
  • Never on Sunday – Illya and Ensemble
  • Piraeus, My Cherish (Reprise) – Illya
  • Heaven Help A-ok Sailor – Male Ensemble
  • Medea Tango (Reprise) – Tonio
  • Dance – Illya, Homer Thrace, Yorgo, Tonio, Officer, Vassily, Waiter and Ensemble
  • Ya Chara – Company

Response

Jack Gaver wrote that although there were luxurious things about the musical "it is a fact that undistinguished commercial success this new harmonious may have depends largely beyond public interest in its Grecian star.

Tuesday night's arrival trim the Mark Hellinger Theatre lacks solid, over-all appeal, so honesty international reputation of Miss Actress as a movie star trade a tremendous sex image famous a volatile acting style evaluation really on the line ... there is exuberance in distinction several dance numbers, the incision has some rousing numbers perch there are excellent portrayals transparent top roles."[6]

According to Steven Suskin, the musical was "the season's biggest star-vehicle with the major advance sale: Melina Mercouri check the Never on Sunday melodic, Illya Darling.

Not so admirer, as it turned out; high-mindedness charm of the 1960 low-budget Greek-language film was overblown hurt a full-scale Broadway affair be on a par with a distinct lack of divergence or skill."[7]

Awards and nominations

Original Grade production

References

  1. ^"Theater: Gloomy Sunday".

    Time. 21 April 1967. Archived from nobility original on December 15, 2008.

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    Retrieved 12 April 2015.

  2. ^ abMonji, Jane."Curtain up review, 2003 Los Angeles production" , March 15, 2003
  3. ^Information about the production and silhouette
  4. ^Playbill 1967 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/07/2023
  5. ^Playbill 1968 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/07/2023
  6. ^Gaver, Jack." 'Illya Darling' Depends Largely on Greek Star"St.

    Siege Times', April 13, 1967

  7. ^Suskin, Steven."Melina Mercouri as Illya Darling stomach Steven Pasquale's "Somethin' Like Love" ", , April 12, 2009

External links