Vidal

1957 · réf. 57478 — NY: Gloria Enterprises 1957. Signed by Cyril Ritchard the star of the play on the front cover. A large 12-page program promoting the play. “Visit to a Small Planet” debuted as an original television production in 1955 then was reworked by Vidal as a Broadway play starring Cyril Ritchard and Eddie Mayehoff. On Broadway the play debuted on February 7 1957 and ran for 388 performances. It was Vidal's first Broadway play. Ritchard who also directed the play received a Tony Award nomination for his performance as Kreton. Mayehoff also received a nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actor. Vidal intended the play as a satire on the post-World War II fear of communism in the United States McCarthyism Cold War military paranoia and the rising importance of television in American life. The play a comedy tells the story of Kreton an alien from an unnamed planet who lands on Earth intending to view the American Civil War. He miscalculates and lands instead 100 years later. Having missed the opportunity to see conflict first hand but delighted with all the new playthings the 20th century has invented for war-making he decides to create a war for himself. “Visit To A Small Planet” was made into a film starring Jerry Lewis. The film was released on February 4 1960. Quarto printed wraps; 16 pages. Photographs by Friedman-Abeles. Very Good covers nice; contents clean & tight. Gloria Enterprises unknown