Production History
Photo Gallery
The cast of IDIOT'S DELIGHT
Harry Van and Irene (John Middleton and Stacia Rice)
Dumpsty and Irene (Sam Landman and Stacia Rice)
Dr. Waldersee and Harry Van (Karen Wiese-Thompson and John Middleton)
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
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.