The longest running play in a single theater ... ever
A world theatrical record was set last night in a small, scruffy theatre in one of the most tasteless streets in Paris. Every day, except Sundays, for the past 50 years, the curtain has risen on "Mr and Mrs Smith", an (allegedly) typical English couple. Mr Smith smokes his English pipe. Mrs Smith darns her English socks. "There is a long moment of English silence. The English clock strikes 17 English chimes."
These are the opening stage directions of La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald Prima Donna) by Eugène Ionesco. The play has been performed in the tiny Théâtre de la Huchette, with the same scenery, the same director and, intermittently, three of the original cast, since 16 February 1957. This is, according to Guinness World Records, the longest continuous run of a play in one theatre, anywhere in the world.
The only possible rival is The Lesson, also by Ionesco. This short play has been shown immediately after La Cantatrice Chauve in the same small theatre every night (except Sundays) for the same period of time. Both plays are now recognised as masterpieces of the theatre of the absurd, shown all over the world in dozens of languages. The Huchette versions are the original productions, first directed by Nicolas Bataille in 1951 with the assistance of the playwright himself.
They moved to the Rue de la Huchette in the fifth arrondissement in 1957 and have been performed there ever since. The street was then a quiet alley in the student-infested Latin quarter. It is now a street crammed with tourists, kebab houses and trashy souvenir shops.
Read entire article at Independent (UK)
These are the opening stage directions of La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald Prima Donna) by Eugène Ionesco. The play has been performed in the tiny Théâtre de la Huchette, with the same scenery, the same director and, intermittently, three of the original cast, since 16 February 1957. This is, according to Guinness World Records, the longest continuous run of a play in one theatre, anywhere in the world.
The only possible rival is The Lesson, also by Ionesco. This short play has been shown immediately after La Cantatrice Chauve in the same small theatre every night (except Sundays) for the same period of time. Both plays are now recognised as masterpieces of the theatre of the absurd, shown all over the world in dozens of languages. The Huchette versions are the original productions, first directed by Nicolas Bataille in 1951 with the assistance of the playwright himself.
They moved to the Rue de la Huchette in the fifth arrondissement in 1957 and have been performed there ever since. The street was then a quiet alley in the student-infested Latin quarter. It is now a street crammed with tourists, kebab houses and trashy souvenir shops.