The Complete Plays: Wife-Swapping - Italian Style (1970)

Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Wife Swapping - Italian Style
Leon Katz
No

The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
15 June 1970
15 June 1970
12 August 1970
Company Details
Director:

Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Alan Ayckbourn

Philip Randell
Graham Phoenix
Gillian Davidson
Character
Arlecchino
Coviello
Flamina
Pantalone
Zanni
Franceschina
Leandro
Cintia
Actor
Robert Peck
Piers Rogers
Elisabeth Sladen
Joe Dunlop
Ronald Herdman
Stephanie Turner
Richard Derrington
Jane Douglas
Notes
○ Wife-Swapping: Italian Style was loosely based on the anonymous Commedia dell'Arte scenario The Three Cuckolds.
○ Alan Ayckbourn’s original intent was to direct Mandrogla (The Mandrake) by Niccolo Machiavelli - described in early publicity drafts as “considered to be one of the greatest of the Italian plays and is certainly one of the funniest”. However, late in the scheduling process (possibly as late as three weeks before the start of the season), Alan Ayckbourn instead decided to produce Wife Swapping - Italian Style which he believed was “newer and better.”
○ The play was toured to HM Prison Hull; the actor Richard Derrington has very vivid memories of performing in pink tights at the show!
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust