The Wisteria Trees
| The Wisteria Trees | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Joshua Logan |
| Based on | The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov |
| Directed by | Joshua Logan |
| Date premiered | March 29, 1950 |
| Original language | English |
The Wisteria Trees is a 1950 American play by Joshua Logan. It was an adaptation of The Cherry Orchard.
Logan wrote the play for Helen Hayes, who would not commit and Logan started focusing on other projects. However, when Hayes' daughter Mary died of polio in 1949, her husband Charles MacArthur urged Logan to put on The Wisteria Trees with Hayes so the actress had something to focus on.[1]
Logan wanted to tour the production extensively before bringing it to New York but says Hayes wanted to bring it to New York sooner.[2] The budget for the 1950 production was $100,000 entirely financed by four people - Logan, Leland Hayward, Helen Hayes and Howard Cullman.[3] Hayes said the script was constantly revived through the rehearsal process.[4]
Variety called it "absorbing but unexciting. Despite its distinguished authorship, stunning production, superb direction and persuasive performance, it remains curiously untheatrical."[5]
However the production was well attended and reviews were strong. However Hayes wanted to take a break for the summer. When she returned the play never regained its former commercial momentum and soon closed.[6]
Logan later wrote "If Ihad known what a violently confused reaction it [the play] was going to have, I wonder whether I would have ever undertaken it."[7]
1955 Production
The play was produced again in 1955. This version featured Hayes, Walter Matthau and Cliff Robertson.
Variety called it "interesting if not completely successful."[8] Walter Kerr of the Herald Tribune said the play "remains a mixed bag of tricks."[9]
Cliff Robertson's performance in the 1955 production led to Logan giving the actor his first film role in Picnic.[10][11]
Notes
- Logan, Josh (1976). Josh: My up and down, in and out life. New York: Delacorte.
References
- ^ Logan p 255
- ^ Logan p 255
- ^ "Inside stuff legit". Variety. 22 February 1950. p. 56.
- ^ Hayes, Helen (1991). My life in three acts. Simon & Schuster. p. 177.
- ^ "The Wisteria Trees". Variety. 3 April 1950. p. 38.
- ^ Logan p 258-259
- ^ Logan p 255
- ^ "The Wisteria Trees". Variety. 9 February 1955.
- ^ Kerr, Walter (3 February 1955). "The Wisteria Trees".
- ^ Logan, Joshua (1978). Movie stars, real people, and me. Delacorte Press. p. 8.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (1 March 2026). "Not Quite Movie Stars: Cliff Robertson". Filmink. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
External links
- 1950 production at Playbill
- 1955 revival at Playbill
- 1950 production at IBDB