Cactus Floweris afarcebyAbe Burrows.It played for years onBroadwaybefore being adapted byI.A.L. Diamondinto a1969 feature filmdirected byGene Saks.
| Cactus Flower | |
|---|---|
 Rare Broadway poster including the name of Joseph Campanella, who was replaced by Barry Nelson before opening night. | |
| Written by | Abe Burrows.Based on a play byPierre BarilletandJean-Pierre Gredy |
| Characters | Stephanie Julian Igor Toni |
| Date premiered | 8 December 1965 |
| Place premiered | Royale Theatre,New York City |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Setting | Manhattan |
Based on the playFleur de cactusbyPierre BarilletandJean-Pierre Gredy,the comedy focuses on the relationship between young, wild Toni and her older, married lover Julian, a dentist. Convinced the two have no future together, Toni attemptssuicide,and a guilt-ridden Julian rashly proposes he leave his wife so the couple can be together. However, Julian has never revealed to Toni that his "marriage" is actually an elaborate lie concocted to keep Toni at arm's length. Toni refuses to break up his household without first meeting and talking with Julian's soon-to-be-ex, so Julian enlists the aid of his shyspinsterassistant Stephanie to pose as his non-existent wife. Complications arise when Toni decides the two must find her a new beau so everyone concerned can live happily ever after.
After two previews, theBroadwayproduction, directed by Burrows, opened on December 8, 1965, at theRoyale Theatre,where it ran for two years and nine months before transferring to theLongacre,for a total run of 1,234 performances, ending on November 23, 1968. The original cast includedLauren Bacall,Barry Nelson,Brenda Vaccaro,andBurt Brinckerhoff.Lloyd Bridges,Kevin McCarthy,andBetsy Palmerwere replacements later in the run. Both Vaccaro and Brinckerhoff were nominated forTony Awardsfor their featured performances.
The play was adapted for film several times: first in 1969 as the Egyptian movieHalf an Hour of Marriage,(Arabic:نص ساعة جواز "); then, the same year, asCactus FlowerwithWalter Matthau,Ingrid BergmanandGoldie Hawn(for which Hawn won an Academy Award); in 2005 as a Bollywood movieMaine Pyar Kyun Kiya?(Why did I fall in love?) withSalman Khan,Sushmita SenandKatrina Kaif;and again in 2011, asJust Go With ItstarringAdam Sandler,Jennifer AnistonandBrooklyn Decker.