Mork Bedord.. . Adolph /Sontho/Nervous GentlemonJoe Delofield.. Peter JuhdszJeremy Lowrence................. . ...PhilipRochel Nopo1eon................ .... pouloAnnie Purcell .. Adele/Dissotisfied LodyKurt Rhoods ...... CountMichoel SchonL .. Young Gentlemon/Mote/CobmonMoren Seorle .....Delivery Boy/Thorough Young LodyJohn Seidmon .......... Domokos/The Old GenilemonJill Tonner ................Arisiocrotic LodyJohn Tufis ......... OscorGobro Zockmon................. ............Unossumino Lody/Potient Lody

ACT I

A little shop of men's ond women's foshion in downtown Budopest.

-/nlermission-

ACT IIThe Counf's study in fhe odministrotive building of the monorio/ esloie.

-/nfermission-

ACI IIIBock in Juh6sz's shop. /t is o bright sunny outumn morntng.

A Biography of Ferenc Molniirby Maya Cantu

In the first half of the twentieth century theHungarian playwright Ferenc Moln6r rose tointemational acclaim with his cosmopolitanfairy tales for adults. Molniir's plays inventivelyblended romantic fantasy and sardonic wit;pointed social satire and polished theatricality.Best known today for Liliom (the basis of theclassic musical Carousel), The Guardsman,and The Play's the Thing, Molnhr wasimmensely prolific and versatile as a journalist,short story writer, novelist, and the author offorty-two plays.

Born as Ferenc Neumann on January 12,1878 to a middle-class Hungarian-Jewishfamily, Moln6r grew up amid the elegantmilieu of Habsburg-era Budapest. Abandoninghis early legal studies, Moln6r defiantlyembarked on a career in journalism. At a timewhen Budapest's newspapers set the pulse ofa bustling, young metropolis, Mo1n6r quicklyestablished himself as one of Hungary's mostdistinguished journalists. Often writing fromhis table at Budapest's NewYork Cafd-wherehe wittily presided over a bohemian circleknown as the "New York Crowd"-Mo1n6rcreated works ranging from his naturalisticnovel, The Hungry City (1901) to his hit farce,The Lawyer (1902).

In 1907, the writer broke out as the firstintemationally famous Hungarian playwright.The year marked the publication of ThePaul Street Boys, Molnhr's classic novel ofBudapest 'Juvenile street-gang warfare," aswell as the sensational success ofhisplay TheDevil. A risqu6 comedy of intrigue, blendingmotifs from Faust and, Freud, the play had foursimultaneous productions in New York Cityalone (including one in German and anotherin Yiddish). Moln6r's personal life also inviteddrama. In 1906, the playwright married thegifted journalist Margit V6szi (the daughter ofhis editor at Budapest Napl6, and with whomhe had one child, M6rta). However, he wassoon enmeshed in a liaison with The Devil'sBudapest leading lady, Ir6n Varsiinyi-an affairthat led to the actress's industrialist husbandchallenging Molniir to a much-publicized duel.

Moln6r began his career as a joumalist ancl workcdas a correspondent at the front during WWl, whilecontinuin8 to write plays.

Molniir's career, as both playwright anddirector, continued to flourish in thc 1910'sacross continental Europe. Thc folk playLiliom (1909; to be prescntcd as a MintFurther Reading on February 23rd) openedas a "noiseless flop" (in Molniir's words) inBudapest. Accustomed to Molnitr's comedies,audiences were confoundcd by its bold mixof poetic fantasy, psychological realism, andsocial critique. Howcvcr, Liliom received,immense acclaim four ycars later in its Viennapremiere. The Hungalian premieres of TheGuardsman (1910) and The Tale of the Wolf(1912) were followcd by productions of theseplays in Paris, Bcrlin, and New York, amongother cities.

The onset of World War I turned Moln6r'sefforts toward war correspondence. DespiteAustria-Hungary's status as an enemy ofthe Allies, Molnirr's balanced and humaneobservations of thc war (collected in TheDiary of a L[ar Correspondent) eamed thedistinction ol' publication in The New YorkTi m e s. W l'nlc Molnilr's fantasy-streaked dramaThe llhite Cloud (1916) similarly confrontedthe devastation of WWI, other plays evokeda peacetime vision of Budapest. These worksincluded Fashions for Men, which, as UriJohn

Seidmon

JeremyLo wre n ce

Micho e I

Scho ntz

RochelNo po leon

GobroZockmo n

Mork Bedord Joe Delofield

Annie Purcell Kurt Rhoods Moren Seorle

Jill Tonner John Tufts

'uorleprcnle Jo luelrleAoJdrur Jo paouur se1rr lq8noql I leql e8essed ,(ue go uors;e,r.InJqlleJ ,(1sno1ndrucs pue lcrnb e rllr,r eruepr,rord plno/y\ eq 'l€q e Jo do.rp otp lV 'cLueus,reqle;pue.r8 1ea:3 srq;o:cdccl cql sr pu€'V''Iur solrT .ttou JoqgD 'uospuu.r8 1uc:3 s,:eu1o141'uJ{nT JoggD prru 'sccrl.rc5 uorll?lsuejJuetre8unll er{l Jo ztrurer5l souiy 'eldoedFgdloq ,,(1149;epuorvr o,4Al Jo pru cql pclsrluo I'l€ql rod 'elerncce orour pur? (lsqleg go ,{e,r,(q) qs4rrg ssel qloq lr c)uu.r o1 Surpuelur 'dnlr peueqseU 1 'onSoyerp crll Jo cnros ueluJ,l\-eJe,r,1 esneceq 'lxel rno roJ lczutD ]lpeJc l,uop I

('ur1g luepse 'uarca11 qlua^as ro.) LZ6l ur ,{elduee,rcg

peldepy roJ preav ,(urepecy ro^o tsrg eqluo^\ eq e;egrvr 'poom.,(lloH ul pue rolseql eqlur JeelBc llussoJcns e p€q eH 'slxel ueuueg uopes€q ere,,lr suorlelsu€4 reulontr slq 1nq'slueredqst,tel uerre8unH ol lseJleg ur ruoq s?,r JozelC'IT,6l uI tuorlt.I peplsnett osle oq,tt leze1gurwelueg ,(q servr uorlplsu€r] eql {JoA ,^ eN urpecnpord lslg s?,l.r. uayg rct suorqsrdr ueqld

'roqln€ eql oJ uorlceuuoc lcerrpe sr ecuere3rerd fpqsrlSug ur uorsre,\ ,rou ?Surleerc lueeu s,(en1e seq leql lnq ?rssn1ruo4 uele 'eulsny wor3r 'ecuerg uro4 s,,{e1dpecnpord ea.e16 'qsr18ug ur uo]trr,r er.,{eq}:eldurs sr uoseer erlJ 'pu€lerl -ro puelSug'ecrreruyuror; eruoc ol puel tulntr oql te s{€ld

eluo.^.€J srq 1e see8n;er uuue8ung ,rolleJ r{lr^\pecsrurueJ puu ',(11ecgryo:d elrrrvr ol penurluoceH 6.'puerU lsoq pue iresr,rpe,fterelrl 'Aelorces,,'relol srq 'equeg epue \ qlr. A eJrl .reu e eperurgulol 'serueq uro4 peleredes A\oN 'leloHszBld ScIJOI .'!\oN le ruoor e olur po^oru oqereq/( 'selels pellun eql ol 0t6l ur pe1er3fiuwrrgulolN 'rusrze51 Jo osrr cqt fq peceldslq

'ouole s,0t6I oqtur sle^ou pue s,,(e1d s,rgulol^ uo peseq surlulq8re peldepe poo,r{y1o11 elrqrrr 'epecep lxeu

eql olul fpeln8er pe.reedde '(n1t) IlDfpese qcns 's,,(e1d rgqo141 Jo suorlcnpord e8elg'1s:eeg qdlopue1 ru€lll111 pue 'se,{eg ue1e11

'urrrrqsreg e8roeg pepnlcur 1sq lsen8 8ur.regr13osoq.^a dil€d reuurp e rgulol aerql lseNepuoJ ueg,4A 'LZ6l ul ecrrerrrv 01 lrsrl lsrgsrq opeut osle eH 'ecrN pue 'ecruen 'peqslr€)'euuern 'lsod€png ur pour€Jureru sruoor loloqe13urs ..:luerugede uoor-eag,, 1eqo13 slq gopeddrnb Jgulo4 ',ftnxn1 ur 3urn1 'su,ueqrlrl sserlc€ e8els peqsrn8ullsrp eql '926I uIpue'ZZ6I ul lgpeC rrgs rels egeredo perrrew,{lc,usscccns }q8u.{^eld eql se 'seuqpeeqo)uur ol pcllurluos cJrT Jrlueuror s.ruulol^I..'uor.rcr.uV ul lqAlr^{{eld l€tueur}uoJ 8ur^rTuA\or-l{-lsoq oq},, su uorlr':1ndc.r s.reulollloruutlurooou lullnrn uoq puu ',{puup 'lr/r\ lr Jourros.r;rrl ,{1r.rqololr orll 's.0Z(r I orlI lrtot;.3rto.rr;,1,

,, uoJ;a alrlnJ e snql are slalJrl asaql Jo; rrtqnd aql uor; saurnbur;ue1suo3,,'1no plos sem (ua7g nl suoulsuT) lvarq u71 yo a;ueuro;rad lsru aq1 pres 1xa1 Surfueduocce aqa 116I 'gZ raqua oN

(a11 raleaql) 1a1g rzgqulzg ur pareadde mopurm doqs e lo tuor; ur reulol Surnoqs uoolrer s,:ofetrrq 4:ua11

'1e,(3ue1rorqclel4 puu ep[e1 lserug s€ sls4erusrpueue8un11 qcns .{q s{rol\Jo xngur crureu,(p eo1 se8els s.{Jo aeN peuedo sseccns u€rrJeruvs,r_?ulol 'erur1 erues eqt lv '(orc]D t"tolpoog aqJ pu€ (SZ6I) Drattt[ur ocrotuuoc pue,{.4snpur Jo swleer eqt ol (0261) UDILS aqJ Jo.(cercolsrre plroly\. pIO oql pue (tZOt) Suttltaqt qtn14 arg go s>1urftq lecut?eqt eql tuo;;:lsedepng go runrlceds I€rcos eql pesJene4,{leleuorssedruoc s&ld s.rgulotr{'ep?cep eq}lnoq8norql 'ouuetuoC uu,{1 pue tun'I po{lv

8ur.r:e1s Surfeld-e1or lelrreru go ,(peuroc e'unusptong aqJ Jo rrotlrnpotd p761 frepue8eleqt pelunou osle qrlq,^ 'plnD e{eeqJ eqlJoJ sseccns Ielueurnuou e pe)Jeu (rezelg ,(qpelelsueJl se) uoutT go ererurerd u€cueruv egl'tZ6I ul 'ecuourv pue edorng qtoq ur rgulonlroJ ep€cep relncelceds e po{reur s.0Z6l eqJ

'zz6I'9 reqruececuo erl€eqJ l€uorleN s.,(e.r(1.peo:g 1€ pouodouayg nt su ottlsog'nze1g uruelueg,(g uorsre,re8en8uel-qsr13ug slr uI '{ro ^\eN

ur penrrrele1u1 s.reef e^g pus 'Ury{wrC pu€ euuer1 ursuorlcnpord ueado:ng Irgsseccns o] uo lua.lauay6 nt suoltlsDl ,.'elqered fgr,u e,, pue..,(peruoc snorcrlep pu€ ellqns e,, se ssa.t4 ,Qtog1s'adnpng cqt ,{q pcpeg '461 Jo reqruecoq ur.riluor.l.l, Il?uorluN s,lsoclupng 1r'l poucdo ',rnar67

'nwotq.fb poqcg a1otr r,uo.t{wsplluJ )ttDutD.te puD {8.tn1nruo.tq ut aat8aps1.ty aug./b lono1 Jaq pauaca.t aqs 'f I0Z uJ',(sd,{g o1 ouorl uro.U 'c8elg 1ucrsn141,{e,rpeorgeq] uo IrrD 3nr1:o16 eql Surur8eul :s€llerepurJuecrrcrilV 'Iooq uolfw)D4 amt31o4Surwocqtto/ aqt.fit nqtno ary| sr otrryy 'quogseog dr1rq.1 il1, ssooleo A ;r;leg eq7 s,Q1aya8nag puD 'llu6 uopuo.1 s'uan,t(J uDl uqofuo pallotr {1snom.a.td sDq aqs araqt 'rutryaql rc./ ras'rtrpfl 1ocr8.tn1oruo,rq puD ,Dpq)s'untrols'lq rapa1l D st nruDJ ntnyg .tq

.,'plro.^a eql ol Suoloqs{ro^\ s(luulotr l puB olueu s,rgulolN,, 'gE6l ulpe^rcsgo ug,{lseqeg lle) crlrrc eg} sV'leeddeperrel pu€ lse^ Jo tq8umfeld € pu€ 'srolrrly\ueue8unll go 1se1ee:3 eq] Suotue surerueJruulolN '@13o9 Qtoq utplootg aq1) ,,sureetpgo ,(1t1enb oqt qtr^\ peqcno] pue sno;oure18 eres,(eyd (asoq,Lt) uorsnllr Jo roleerc e,, sy ,,'e1,9si^.J9uloIAtrJo JeJrurpe 1eer3 e ueoq o^eq o] u/y\oDlsr"'ollepueJrd r3rn1 ue,r.g 'lseJelut ureuec erprm s,(e1d s,rgulol I p€er lqcerg lloueg se qcnsslsq€urerp re1e1 ,(q,.l repuo,r elDrl sr 1I 'flercossselc elpprlu Jo suorlJrpeJluoJ eql esodxo o1

.rcpJo ur nerlrru ueqrn cql oluo weq] slcelotdcrl c.rcq1 dols ,{10-rour 1ou scop crl 1ng ',{se1uu;pur: {1r1uo.r 'sorl pull rllll.rl purlo.nr 3ur,r1o,tc.ri^lll lltloJ tlllttllltl I lrltlilttllrl)tlll J osotll t; lrnt s,(rr;dsltl sin(lillr,lllUl()14..'siA,ros(l() r,{rro1.ru4 rrunls;

Jol)JJrp )tlstu0 Jql utOJJ tl0u D

relor{cs sv'l?cr4eeq} fleleruurnsuoc osl€ oJeslrol( srH 'solqloJ ueunqJo errles crleqledu,{ss.lq8rrn{e1d eq} .{g pesnJur ',(lercos lsed€pnggo sle4rod pe:efe1 .reg;o s,{e1d s,rgulol'enbruqcel Surlzzep -rreqt puo{eq '<peepul

..'pegrlsnleq plno,t\ rccrsc snlJo uorpnleleeJe leql 1so33ns o] ecuepr^e I€quelsqns (sr ereql)1nq teuregalue ue ,{yreuud suteureJ Jgulol/{'eurl srq ;o flercos cJBc oql roJ serpeuocfqlor; elor.Lr oq.r rerpre^elnoq lscdepng e sepepre8er ,{luourruoc,, ool ueeq seq lq8u.udeldeq]-elnqlrl 966I e ul Pe^resqo ^\ossnc IoIAIcrlrrc se-sseleque^eN ..'slq8r.rn,(e1d eueqrneIil Jo lsoq eql 'lue8ele 'qloours,, se replrl6,{t1g fq pegrrcsep roJrrl( e Jo lro^\ eql s?plJold erll punoJe pero^?s eq ol onurluocs,{e1d s.r9u1oy41 'sepeccp ^\eJ lsel eql uI

'zs6l ul {ro^\eN ur sseu1l Suoy e rege porp lq3rr.r,rde1deql '(dre8un11 tsrunruruoJ ur peuueq q8noq1)edo;ng pue €crJoruv w uorlnlrlsur Iecr4eeql e

Illls ..,']ou tue I leql (ddeq elrnb 1nq ,{ddeq rue

1 'se1, 'prus r€ulol4tr '(ecueuy ur) ,(ddeq elmbse/y\ eq reqleqa ,(ep euo polsv,, 'pelunocerueuuqeg 'N's sv 'seuo Jequos ssoloqleuouere,^d, olrxoJo s,{ep leug srH ..'eroJeq ,(1docp oscur pc^orlr Jc^cu sPrJ srsrlnr luJr]lecrll., 'c]oJ.{rotl,tt '.rgulol por;r1n.rf oslu (976, 1) l)sno.tn)s.ul:lls.rlurullll llrrrr s.r:r3po1l o1rl r./.)///T .lottotltlltlttptt trll,l, lii,tlS (llllS 1o lissJlllJllil)

8e8s @ a&/8