A Day in the Death of Joe Egg

"A Day in the Death of Joe Egg" is a 1967 play by British playwright Peter Nichols. The play was made into a film in 1971, directed by Peter Medak and starring Alan Bates, Janet Suzman, Peter Bowles and Elizabeth Robillard.

The movie centers on a British couple who are struggling to save their marriage whilst trying to raise their only child, a small girl suffering from Cerebral Palsy. She is wheelchair bound and unable to communicate. Taking care of her has occupied nearly every moment of her parent's lives since her birth, and this has taken a heavy toll on their marriage.

Sheila, her mother, gives Josephine as much of a life as she can while Bri wants the child institutionalised and has begun to entertain chilling fantasies of killing himself and Josephine.

The play first opened in London's West End in 1967 then transferred to Broadway the next year. On Broadway, the play was nominated for 4 Tony Awards including Best Play, Best Actor (Albert Finney), Best Actress (Zena Walker) and Best Director (Michael Blakemore). Walker won the Tony for Best Actress.

The play has been revived twice on Broadway. A revival was staged in 1985 at the Longacre Theatre and played for 93 performances. It was directed by Arvin Brown. The cast included Jim Dale, Stockard Channing and Joanna Gleason. The cast also featured Christina Pickles and Kate Wilkinson.

A 2003 revival on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre was directed by Laurence Boswell and played for 69 performances. It starred Eddie Izzard and Victoria Hamilton.

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=3120 IBDB entry for Broadway premier]
* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4365 IBDB entry for 1985 revival]
* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=13455 IBDB entry for 2003 revival]