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Production History
Photo Gallery

All photos by Richard Fleischman.

Quotes from the press


“Idiot’s Delight remains a smart tale, and Girl Friday tells it well.”

—Pioneer Press

 

“A 1930s world on the brink of war still resonates today in Idiot’s Delight.”

—City Pages

 

“But even now, 80 years after it was written, the themes of nationalism, loyalty, changing borders, and a great sadness at the cost of war on all sides ring true.”

—Cherry and Spoon

“Idiot’s Delight: a lovely rendering of this chestnut.

—How Was The Show

This activity is funded, in part, by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund.

Supported in part by the Cultural Sales Tax Revitalization Program

Special thanks to:

Idiot's Delight

By Robert E. Sherwood

 

June 30–July 23, 2017

Directed by Craig Johnson  

 

Winner of the 1936 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Idiot’s Delight is a romantic commentary on greed, idealism, love, and the grim realities of war.

 

An eccentric assortment of characters are stranded together in a European mountaintop resort at the outbreak of war, including a munitions magnate, his mysterious Russian mistress, and an American song and dance man with his chorine companions “Les Blondes.”

 

Girl Friday Productions brought its signature large ensemble cast to this dramatic comedy with musical accents, set in a world on the brink.

 

Cast:

Dumpsty: Sam Landman

Paleta: Kevin Dutcher

Donald: Navadel David Beukema

Pittaluga: Kirby Bennett

Captain Locicero: Eric Knutson

Dr. Waldersee: Karen Wiese-Thompson

Mr. Cherry: Gabriel Murphy

Mrs. Cherry: Adelin Phelps

Harry Van: John Middleton*

Shirley: Bonni Allen

Beulah: Karissa Lade

Bebe: Becca Hart

First Officer: Mike Swan

Second Officer: C. Ryan Shiply

Quillery: Kory LaQuess Pullam

Signor Rossi: Mike Swan

Signora Rossi: Bonni Allen

Irene: Stacia Rice*

Achille Weber: David Coral

*denotes member AEA

 

Production Team:

Director: Craig Johnson

Pianist and music director: Kevin Dutcher

Assistant director: Anna Leverett

Stage manager: Penny Laden

Production manager: Brian Columbus

Technical director/lighting designer: Dietrich Poppen

Scenic design: Michael Hoover

Costume design: Kathy Kohl

Costume design assistant: Mary Farrell

Sound design: Anita Kelling

Sound operator: Jerry Hsiao

Props design: Abbee Warmboe

Dialect coach: Lucinda Holshue

Dramaturge: Kit Gordon

Choreographer: C. Ryan Shipley

Graphic design: Wendy Ruyle and 5 by 5 Design, Madge Duffey

Producer: Kirby Bennett

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Listen In

Girl Friday Productions was delighted to be interviewed about our 2017 production of IDIOT’S DELIGHT for the January 2024 “All the Drama” podcast on broadwayradio.com! Host Janice Simpson provides extensive context about the play and playwright Robert E. Sherwood, and Girl Friday’s interview begins at the 15:11 mark.

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