Ferenc Molnar's fantastic drama played twice on Boroadway: first in 1921 and nest in 1940, starring Ingrid Bergman as Julie and Burgess Meredith as Liliom. In 1945, the New York Theatre Guide commissioned the musical team of Rodgers and Hammerstein to create a musical with an American setting. They changed the locale from Budgapest, Hungray to a new england clamback and introduced Julie as the sweet, hometown girl and Liliom as Yankee Billy Bigelow. Although much of the original flavor of Molnar's play ia lost in their musical entitled, Carousel, one of Julie's lines, "If I loved you, Mr. Liliom" written by Molnar became the basis for the musical's most famous song, " If I loved you."Program Notes
The English Department 1998 Annual Play cast and staff are especially talented students and they have been a pleasure to work with to stage this drama for you. I am particularly happy to have the chance to introduce the work of a distinguished playwright. Even though we are playing from the English translation of Liliom, I believe that the language proves to be exceptionally stage --worthy and expresses Molnar's artistry perhaps more accurately than the musical adaptation. We want to bring the drama close to you the audience; therefore this production is staged as arena theatre. the actors, too, hope to touch you with the truthfulness of their playing. One of the most fascination aspect of directing for the College Theatre is discovering how much language itself such as interpretation and intonation becomes part of the creative acting process.