- Performances: 1,234.
- Open / Close: December 8, 1965 – November 23, 1968
- Theater: Started at the Royale Theatre, transferred to the Longacre at the end of its run.
- Tony Awards: The two relative newcomers to Broadway, Brenda Vaccaro and Burt Brinkerhoff, received Best Featured Actor nominations. Neither would win.
- Fun Facts: Robert Moore, who would direct “Promises, Promises” in 1968, had a small part in “Cactus Flower.” Brinkerhoff only had one Broadway credit before “Flower” and would only have one more after. He would go on to appear in many TV series and ultimately become a prolific director in television. He directed the pilot of “Three’s Company,” 27 episodes of “7th Heaven,” and was nominated for 3 Emmy Awards for episodes of “Lou Grant.”
Podcast
Why is a conversation with Jordan Schildcrout always a good time? Because in the course of just 30 minutes chatting about the relatively obscure play “Cactus Flower,” you’ll hear about additionally fascinating plays like “Two for the Seesaw” and “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window.” Jordan and I dig into both the weird and wonderful aspects of “Cactus Flower,” the show that brought Lauren Bacall back to Broadway. The movie version would win Goldie Hawn her only Oscar and feature a decent comic turn by the legendary Ingrid Bergman and a befuddling romantic lead performance by Walter Matthau.
Jordan wrote an essential book of Broadway history, “In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway’s Hit Plays,” so not only knows about specific shows, but has a broader perspective on where “Cactus Flower” fits in among the pantheon of long-running plays. We touch on the history of the manic pixie dream girl stereotype, the resonance of Bacall and Vaccaro’s voices, and do our due diligence in talking about “Just Go With It,” the Adam Sandler / Jennifer Aniston modern-day retelling of the “Cactus Flower” story.
Why does a seemingly outdated show like “Boeing Boeing” succeed but something like “Cactus Flower” seems relegated to the dust bin of history? Find out in this episode!