Tony Randall & Pirandello

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 10/29/03 at 1:51pm

just curious about RIGHT YOU ARE IF YOU THINK SO and whether anyone has seen it. Also wondering why, since the West End has been playing a new translation called ABOSLUTELY (PERHAPS) with Joan Plowright, Randall's theatre wouldn't use that translation. Is it because the translator is Martin Sherman and BOY FROM OZ is sullying his Broadway name?!?!?

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/29/03 at 1:56pm

Ya know, I never thought I'd see those two names together!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 10/29/03 at 2:01pm

The copyright on Right You Are If You Think You Are (or what ever title is being used, I have also seen it as It Is So If You Think So) expired long ago. Perhaps so did the translation that Randall's company will use.

I think it has nothing to do with Who? as opposed to How much? Its always money.

Pirandello had a brief but definite resurgance in the 60s but no major NY productions since. Let's wait and see how this will fare.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 10/29/03 at 2:03pm

yeah his "Actor's National Theatre" or whatever it's called seems to do a fair share of world theatre: Feydeau, etcetera. He sometimes directs and other times appears (or both). There is a fairly well-known female name appearing in the Pirandello with him but it's slipped my mind. Randall is actually a very good comic actor, and his timing is impeccable still.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 10/29/03 at 2:06pm

well, unless the translation itself has also become public domain, you usually have to pay licensing on it anyway. And an Italian-to-English translation now in domain (since they recently extended the window to 150 years instead of 100, i believe) would be pretty stilted anyway. i think RIGHT YOU ARE is interesting, but i'm a big fan of SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR.