Song of the Grasshopper
| Song of the Grasshopper | |
|---|---|
 Broadway production playbill cover, 1967 | |
| Original language | Spanish |
| Written by | Alfonso Paso William Layton (translator) Augustin Penon (translator) |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 28 September 1967 (US) |
Song of the Grasshopper is a 1967 comedy play written by Alfonso Paso. The New York production starred Alfred Drake as Aristobulo.
Production history
Song of the Grasshopper was originally written in Spanish by Spanish playwright Alfonso Paso. It was adapted into English for the Broadway production by William Layton and Agustin Penon and was directed by Charles Bowden, who was also a producer. The Broadway cast starred Alfred Drake. It also starred Jan Farrand and Ben Piazza, and featured Michael Enserro, Robin Ponterio, and Diana Davila. Scenic production was done by Oliver Smith, lighting was designed by Martin Aronstein, and costumes were designed by Noel Taylor.[1]
The producers had never produced on Broadway before; nor had the translators adapted a Broadway play or had the director directed a Broadway production.[2]
Song of the Grasshopper went into rehearsal on August 9, 1967. It had a try-out performance in Wilmington, which only filled 25% capacity of the theatre and received two negative reviews. It opened in Philadelphia a week later, to three negative reviews. Before the production moved to New York, a new writer joined the team to made edits to the script. [2]
Song of the Grasshopper had four preview performances and opened on September 27, 1967 at the Anta Theatre on Broadway. It had four regular performances and closed on September 30, 1967.[1][3] The New York Times described the production as a "disaster."[4]
Plot
The two-act play takes place at the house of Aristobulo "Aris" Rivas on the outskirts of Madrid.[1] Aris is separated from his wife and has a few children from assorted women, plus a pet crocodile in his bathroom. He has no money, and has invested his last few coins in a raffle ticket. Despite this all, he still believes it'll all work out.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 "Song of the Grasshopper". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- 1 2 3 Goldman, William (1984). The season : a candid look at Broadway. Internet Archive. Limelight Editions. pp. 33–35. ISBN 978-0-87910-023-0.
- ↑ "Song of the Grasshopper – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "Theater: 'Song of the Grasshopper' Has Premiere at ANTA; Tale About Philanderer and His Large Family Alfonso Paso Comedy Stars Alfred Drake". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-02.