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Design for Living
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===Theatre=== The first London production of ''Design for Living'' opened at the [[Haymarket Theatre]] on 25 January 1939, later transferring to the [[Savoy Theatre]], and running for 233 performances. The run was cut short by the outbreak of [[World War II]]. Gilda was played by [[Diana Wynyard]], Otto by [[Anton Walbrook]] and Leo by [[Rex Harrison]]. By the time the play made its delayed debut in London [[Ivor Brown]] thought it "very much of its time and already seems a trifle faded. It will not be long before they revive it in costume as a specimen comedy of 'early thirties' manners."<ref>''[[The Observer]]'', 29 January 1939, p. 11</ref> The first major revival was at the [[Phoenix Theatre (London)|Phoenix Theatre]], London, shortly after Coward's death in 1973. [[Vanessa Redgrave]] played Gilda, with [[John Stride]] and [[Jeremy Brett]] as Otto and Leo.<ref>Wardle, Irving. "Design for Living", ''[[The Times]]'', 22 November 1973, p. 12</ref> In 1982, at the [[Greenwich Theatre]] and then the [[Gielgud Theatre|Globe Theatre]], [[Maria Aitken]], [[Gary Bond]] and [[Ian Ogilvy]] played the lead roles.<ref>Chaillet, Ned. "Many-splendoured love triangle", ''The Times'', 22 June 1982, p. 15; and "Theatre", ''The Times'', 5 August 1982, p. 11</ref> The first Broadway revival was in 1984 at Circle in the Square Theater, directed by [[George C. Scott]], starring [[Jill Clayburgh]] as Gilda, [[Raul Julia]] as Leo and [[Frank Langella]] as Otto.<ref>''The New York Times'', 21 June 1984</ref> A 1994 revival of the play directed by [[Sean Mathias]] at the [[Donmar Warehouse]] theatre emphasised the sexual overtones of the play. Though the Coward estate had been wary of radical reinterpretations of the plays, the author's partner, [[Graham Payn]], attended at least one performance. The production featured [[Rachel Weisz]], [[Paul Rhys]] and [[Clive Owen]]. It transferred to the West End with Weisz, [[Rupert Graves]] and [[Marcus D'Amico]].<ref>Billington, Michael. "Every Which Way", ''[[The Guardian]]'', 8 September 1994, p. A4</ref><ref>Kelleway, Kate. "Ardour and Ardour", ''[[The Observer]]'', 26 February 1995, p. 2</ref> A 2001 Broadway revival, directed by [[Joe Mantello]], starred [[Alan Cumming]] as Otto, [[Jennifer Ehle]] as Gilda and [[Dominic West]] as Leo.<ref>McGee, Celia. "He Has a Design for Success", ''The Daily News'', 15 March 2001, p. 46</ref> This version brought the gay subtext to the fore, and included a kiss between Otto and Leo.<ref>Schwarzbaum, Lisa. [https://ew.com/article/2001/03/23/design-living-2/ "Design for Living"], ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''</ref> In July 2002 [[Marianne Elliott (director)|Marianne Elliott]] directed a production for the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester]] with Victoria Scarborough as Gilda, Clarence Smith as Leo and [[Oliver Milburn]] as Otto.<ref>Hickling, Alfred. "[https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2002/jul/05/theatre.artsfeatures1 "Design for Living"], ''The Guardian'', 5 July 2002</ref> [[The Old Vic]] Theatre, London, staged a revival in 2010, with [[Tom Burke (actor)|Tom Burke]] as Otto, [[Lisa Dillon]] as Gilda, and [[Andrew Scott (actor)|Andrew Scott]] as Leo.<ref>Purves, Libby. "Thirties erotic hotchpotch still startles", ''The Times'', 16 September 2010, p. 56</ref>
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