A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
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| Broadway Show | |
| A Day in the Death of Joe Egg | |
|---|---|
| Theatre | Brooks Atkinson Theatre |
| Opening Night | 1 February 1968 |
| Tony Nominations | 4 |
| Tony Awards | 1 |
| Author(s) | Peter Nichols |
| Director | Michael Blakemore |
| Leading Original Cast Members | Albert Finney and Zena Walker |
| Closing Night | 15 June 1968 |
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg is a 1967 play by British playwright Peter Nichols. The play was made into a film in 1971, directed by Peter Medak and starring Alan Bates, Janet Suzman, Peter Bowles and Elizabeth Robillard.
The play centers on a British couple who are struggling to raise their only child, a severely handicapped girl with whom they cannot communicate. She is incontinent and unable to communicate. Taking care of her has occupied nearly every moment of her parent's lives since her birth, and this has taken a heavy toll on their marriage.
Sheila, her mother, still clings to impossible dreams of Josephine's recovery, while Bri has begun to entertain chilling fantasies of killing Josephine.
The play first opened in London's West End in 1967 then transferred to Broadway the next year. On Broadway, the play was nominated for 4 Tony Awards including Best Play, Best Actor (Albert Finney), Best Actress (Zena Walker) and Best Director (Michael Blakemore). Walker won the Tony for Best Actress.
The play has been revived twice on Broadway. A revival was staged in 1985 at the Longacre Theatre and played for 93 performances. It was directed by Arvin Brown. The cast included Jim Dale, Stockard Channing and Joanna Gleason.
A 2003 revival on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre was directed by Laurence Boswell and played for 69 performances. It starred Eddie Izzard and Victoria Hamilton.
