Fanny’s First Play

July 18, 2011

A satire of theater critics (whose characters were based upon Shaw’s own detractors), FANNY’S FIRST PLAY features a play within a play. Originally, Shaw had the play produced without letting anyone know who actually wrote it. Ironically, this rarely seen 1911 play was Shaw’s first real commercial success, which he finally admitted to writing. The plot involves the daughter of a man who refuses to live in the present. She write an incendiary play, anonymously, and invites a group of critics to review it. For this performance, the four critics in the play were portrayed by four New York theatre critics.

Written by Bernard Shaw in 1911.

Cast:

Juggins – Mr. Bradford Cover
Cecil Savoyard – Mr. John Martello
Count O’Dowda – Mr. Daniel Davis
Fanny O’Dowda – Ms. Mara Davi
Narrator – Mr. Peter Filichia of the STAR -LEDGER
(The Critics)
Mr. Trotter – Mr. Michael Feingold of the VILLAGE VOICE
Mr. Vaughan – Mr. Adam Feldman of TIME OUT NEW YORK
Mr. Gunn – Mr. Patrick Pacheco of NY1 and the LA TIMES
Mr. Flawner Bannal – Mr. Jason Zinoman of the NY TIMES
(The Play Within the Play)
Robin Gilbey – Mr. Hal Robinson
Bobby – Mr. Rory O’Malley
Mrs. Gilbey – Ms. Susan Blackwell
Juggins – Mr. Bradford Cover
Dora Delaney – Ms. Amy Rutberg
Margaret Knox – Ms. Mara Davi
Mrs. Knox – Ms. Christine Pedi
Joseph Knox – Mr. Jack Gilpin
Lieutenant Duvallet – Mr. Marc Vietor

Evening hosted by Mr. Gordon Cox of VARIETY

Produced and directed by Mr. David Staller