An American Repertory Theatre revival of Eugène Ionesco‘s Rhinoceros, a darkly absurdist 1959 play about inner ugliness and encroaching slob conformity (1930s National Socialism, Trumpism), began playing in Cambridge about a week ago. It will continue until Sunday, September 27th.
John Turturro (Berenger, the flawed but rebellious main protagonist), Paul Giamatti (Jean, the main antagonist) and Tatiana Maslany (Daisy, Berenger’s wife) top the Cambridge cast.
The first B’way production opened in 1961 at the Longacre theatre with Eli Wallach as Berenger, the great Zero Mostel in the Giamatti role (his performance snagged a Tony for Best Leading Actor) and Anne Jackson as Daisy.
13 years later Gene Wilder (Berenger), Mostel and Karen Black (Daisy) costarred in a low-budget film version that was released on 1.21.74. It was directed by Tom O’Horgan, produced by Ely Landau and distributed by American Film Theatre.
I was ashamed to admit to myself this morning that I’ve never seen a single clip from this and had almost totally forgotten about it.
Pic opened only a couple of weeks before Blazing Saddles (2.7.74) and roughly nine months before Young Frankenstein (12.15.74) — the two most seminal and popular comedies Wilder ever starred in. Quite the banner year.
Has anyone seen the ’74 Rhinoceros? And if so, reactions?
