Room Service (play)

Poster for the Federal Theatre Project production of Room Service in San Francisco (1938)

Room Service is a play written by Allen Boretz and John Murray. It was originally produced by George Abbott and debuted at the Cort Theatre in New York City on May 19, 1937. Its initial production ran for 500 performances, closing on July 16, 1938. The play was revived for a short run of 16 performances in 1953.

RKO Pictures purchased the film rights for a then-record $225,000 and used it as the basis for the Marx Brothers film of the same title.[1] In 1944 RKO released a further film adaptation, a musical entitled Step Lively.

The 1937 production starred Eddie Albert as Leo Davis.[2] The role was played by Jack Lemmon in the 1953 revival.[3] Alexander Asro, who created the role of Sasha Smirnoff, played the same role in both the 1938 film and the revival.

Original 1937-38 Broadway cast

Character Actor
Leo Davis Eddie Albert
Sasha Smirnoff Alexander Asro*
Timothy Hogarth Jack Byrne
Joseph Gribble Clifford Dunstan*
Hilda Manney Betty Field
Faker Englund Teddy Hart
Senator Blake's Secretary William Howard
Gordon Miller Sam Levene
Harry Binion Peter Loeb
Gregory Wagner Donald MacBride*
Bank Messenger William Mendrek
Senator Blake Ralph Morehouse
Christine Marlowe Margaret Mullen
Dr. Glass Hans Robert
Simon Jenkins Philip Wood*
  • Reprised the role in the film adaptation.

References

  1. ↑ Mitchell, Glenn (2003). The Marx Brothers Encyclopedia. London: Reynolds & Hearn. pp. 247–248. ISBN 1-905287-11-9.
  2. ↑ "Eddie Albert Biography". Biography.com. 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-04-25. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  3. ↑ "Biographical Information for Jack Lemmon". Kennedy Center. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2010-02-28.


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