This long-running Broadway comedy (also a popular film) is not only about a love affair taking place once a year. It is also a reflection of 25 years of American morals and attitudes mirrored in the changing lives and personalities of its two characters. George picks up Doris in a California restaurant in 1951, and they agree to meet in a nearby inn once each year. They are both happily married—to other people—have children and remain loyal to their spouses except for their yearly brief encounter. Six scenes take place over a period of 25 years. The scenes are spaced five years apart, ending in 1975. George is at first a guilt-ridden, neurotic accountant becoming increasingly stuffy and rich. He gives it all up, goes into psychiatric analysis, joins therapy groups, becomes a latter-day hippie and finally returns to the Establishment. Doris starts as an awkward girl, then becomes progressively a young, restless housewife, a college student returnee, over-aged flower child, career woman and finally settled matron. Their changes, however, never synchronize—making for poignant drama as well as hilarious comedy.BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE was first produced at the Booth Theatre in New York and was named the best play of the 1969/70 season. Eileen Hekkart played the mother, Keir Dullea her son Don, and Blythe Danner did the part of Jill. Ralph was played by Michael Glaser. The film version, which followed three years later with Goldie Hawn in the role of Jill, was an international success. Eileen Hekkart, who also appeared in the film, won the 1972 academy award for Best Supporting Actress. The German premiere of the play was in 1971 in Berlin’s Renaissance-Theater. Victor de Kowa directed and Inge Meysel played the part of the mother. Since then, this popular play has been done almost everywhere in the world. Even a plattdeutsch version by Heide Tietjen was produced in Bremen in 1987 with the title SOMMER-VAGELS SÜND FREE. Most recently the Hamburg Komödie Winterhuder Fährhaus produced the comedy early in 1997 with Witta Pohl playing the mother.
CAST
DON BAKER | Stefan Goering
JILL TANNER | Fionna MacDonald
MRS. BAKER | Gabriele Ellis
RALPH AUSTIN | Klaus Nürnberg