Steambath (play)
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Steambath is the second play by American author Bruce Jay Friedman. It was first performed Off-Broadway at the Truck and Warehouse Theater where it opened on June 30, 1970, closing on October 18, 1970, after 128 performances.
This play presents the
Friedman claims to have been inspired to write the play in part because of a "bad experience with the food at a Chinese restaurant" that had him contemplating mortality.[1]
Cast
Initially Charles Grodin was cast in the role of Tandy, but was replaced by Perkins. Coincidentally, Grodin soon landed his breakthrough role as a comedy actor in the film The Heartbreak Kid, based on a short story by Steambath author Friedman.
Other media
The play was then produced for
Steambath became a
Along with Oh! Calcutta!, the play was spoofed as "Bathtub" in The Odd Couple episode "What Does a Naked Lady Say to You?"
In the film Fame, Ralph performs an excerpt from Steambath as part of his audition for the High School of Performing Arts. We do not see the audition itself, only Ralph's introduction: "I'm God, see? And God is Puerto Rican, you got that? Now, God works in a casa de steam, you know. It's a steam bath, right? . . . I'm God, see? That's why I'm standing on this chair, you got that? Good."[3]
References
- ^ Pif Magazine, "One on One", Derek Alger, October 2004
- New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
- ^ Fame (1980), retrieved 2018-12-16
Sources
- Interview with Bruce Jay Friedman by Derek Alger, PIF magazine