For the 1991 film adaptation of “Frankie and Johnny,” using a shortened title from its previous stage name, stars Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer were cast as the title characters.
But the story’s previous life began as Terrence McNally’s acclaimed romantic drama “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune,” premiering Off-Broadway in 1987 and starring Kathy Bates and F. Murray Abraham in the title roles.
This weekend is the second of three weekend performance runs for a new production of “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” playing through Sunday, July 12, at Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan City.
Billed as one of “McNally’s most enduring works celebrated for its humor, honesty and deeply human portrayal of connection, vulnerability and hope,” this new stage incarnation is directed by Morgan McCabe with scenic design by Michael Lasswell and starring Kat Evans as Frankie and Mark Mendelsohn as Johnny, with Michael Nowak listed as “the Voice of the Radio Announcer.”
Set over the course of a single evening in a modest New York City apartment, “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” follows two middle-aged coworkers at a diner as they begin to form an unexpected connection. Frankie, a guarded waitress wary of disappointment, is contrasted with the persona of Johnny, an optimistic short-order cook eager to embrace life’s possibilities.
The character of Johnny loves to spend any night sharing stories, confronting insecurities and navigating the delicate balance between independence and intimacy. As the evening unfolds, it’s Johnny who requests the French song ” Clair de Lune ” by Debussy be played on the radio, and he invites Frankie to stand with him to share hopes and dreams in the moonlight.
“What begins as an awkward encounter gradually becomes an honest exploration of trust, loneliness and the courage required to open oneself to another person,” director Morgan McCabe explained to me.
“First produced in 1987, the play’s themes still resonate deeply in today’s loud, divided culture, where we often now connect only through devices. It’s why loneliness and a fear of emotional vulnerability are rising. This play strips everything down to two ordinary, working-class people in a small apartment, negotiating consent, autonomy and the fragile possibility of connection. Choosing hope and love is especially resonant in such uncertain times.”
The play review team at Dunes Summer Theatre began the steps to request production rights for “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” last summer through special arrangements with Concord Theatricals on behalf of the Dramatists Play Service.
The remaining performances of “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” through July 12 at Dunes Summer Theatre, 288 Shady Oak Drive in the Michiana Shores area of Michigan City, are at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sunday. There will not be a Saturday, July 4, performance in observance of the holiday.
Tickets are $15 to $35 by calling 219-879-7509 or at dunesARTS.org.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com.
