Book Review: The Seven Year Itch: A Romantic Comedy (playscript) by George Axelrod

The Seven Year Itch: A Romantic Comedy

by George Axelrod (812 Ax2s)

 

I’ve been a fan of the movie The Seven Year Itch, directed by Billy Wilder and starring the iconic Marilyn Monroe, for many years, and knew that the movie was based on a hit play from the 1950s, but only got around the reading it recently. The play was written by George Axelrod, who also wrote the play Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter, and the screenplays of film hits Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Manchurian Candidate (among many others). The play premiered in 1952, starring Tom Ewell as Richard Sherman, a role he also essayed in the 1955 Monroe film. At the time of its premiere, The Seven Year Itch was considered quite controversial — dealing frankly with sexuality and adultery in ways that had previously only been hinted at on the stage, at least in comedies. By the standards of today’s culture, it actually seems rather quaint.

 

Richard Sherman is a publishing executive going through a mid-life crisis. When his wife and child head to their summer vacation home, Richard is forced to confront his life and apparent inadequacies in a series of talking-to-himself monologues. Then, the beautiful young woman living in the apartment above his drops a plant off her balcony onto his, nearly killing him — and beginning a quirky relationship between the two. In the 1955 film, their relationship never really goes beyond the fantasy stage, but in this 1952 play, Sherman actually does have an affair with “The Girl”, leading to more soul searching and self-justification on Sherman’s part — but “The Girl” just feels sexually liberated — a rather “out there” attitude for the early 1950s, though more commonplace today.

 

Well-written, but definitely a product of its time. The Seven Year Itch is still a fabulous play, and is NOT about a predatory male, but rather about an empowered and self-assured young woman who has no problem going after what she wants! Just don’t expect the same outcome as Marilyn’s film — this is definitely a different show!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the film The Seven Year Itch by Billy Wilder.]

[ Wikipedia page for the play The Seven Year Itch ] | [ Wikipedia page for George Axelrod ]

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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