Summer and Smoke

"Summer and Smoke" is a 1948 play by Tennessee Williams, originally entitled "Chart of Anatomy" when Williams began work on it in 1945. In 1964, Williams revised the play as "The Eccentricities of a Nightingale".

The play tells the story of a lonely, unmarried minister's daughter (Alma Winemiller) who is courted by her childhood love, a wild, undisciplined doctor (Dr. John Buchanan, Jr.).

tage Performances

Broadway

"Summer and Smoke" received its first performance at the Music Box Theatre,New York City, on 6 October, 1948 in a production staged by Margo Jones and designed by Jo Mielziner with Tod Andrews, Margaret Phillips, Monica Boyar and Anne Jackson. The play ran for 102 performances.

In 1952, Geraldine Page played the lead role in a production by José Quintero at the Circle in the Square Theatre.

The play was revived in 1996 at the Criterion Center Stage Right, in a production directed by David Warren, with Harry Hamlin and Mary McDonnell.

West End

London had to wait nearly sixty years for the premiere of "Summer and Smoke". It opened at the Apollo Theatre on 17 October 2006. The production, directed by Adrian Noble and starring Rosamund Pike and Chris Carmack first opened at the Nottingham Playhouse in September, prior to its London transfer. It closed ten weeks short of its planned sixteen week run due to disappointing ticket sales.

Other revivals

In January 2007, the Paper Mill Playhouse presented a revival starring Amanda Plummer and Kevin Anderson, directed by Michael Wilson.

Film Adaptation

The play was made into a 1961 film starring Laurence Harvey and Geraldine Page with Rita Moreno, Una Merkel, John McIntire, Thomas Gomez, Pamela Tiffin, Malcolm Atterbury, Lee Patrick and Earl Holliman. It was adapted by James Poe and Meade Roberts and directed by Peter Glenville.

A filmed Broadway version of "Summer and Smoke" called "Eccentricities of a Nightingale" was filmed in the 70's on the Broadway stage with Blythe Danner as the lead and with a script Williams himself revised.

The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Geraldine Page), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Una Merkel), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

Television Adaptation

A television version was produced in 1972. It starred Lee Remick, David Hedison, and Barry Morse. Another production, called "Eccentricities of a Nightingale", appeared on television in 1976. This version starred Blythe Danner and Frank Langella.