Anna Christie

Anna Christie (1921), a drama by Eugene O'Neill. [Vanderbilt Theatre, 177 perf.; Pulitzer Prize.] At Johnny‐the‐Priest's waterfront saloon, where Chris Christopherson ( George Marion) whiles away the hours he is not on his coal barge, a letter arrives for him from his daughter, Anna ( Pauline Lord), announcing she is coming back to New York. Chris has not seen her since she was a youngster, for his wife and Anna went to live with relatives on a farm in Minnesota, and after his wife's death, as Chris explains, “Ay tank it's better Anna live on farm, den she don't know dat ole davil sea, she don't know fader like me.” When Anna appears, however, it is obvious to everyone but Chris that Anna has known devils of her own. She was seduced by her cousin when she was sixteen, and, running away to St. Paul, became a prostitute. When the powerful, rough sailor Mat Burke ( Frank Shannon) meets and falls in love with Anna, she tells Mat and her father of her history. The men go out, get drunk, and sign on a ship that will take them to Africa. Before they leave, however, they are reconciled with Anna. She promises to await their return and “make a regular place for you to come back to.” Chris is uncertain of what that means. “Only dat ole davil sea, she know!” he responds. Burns Mantle called Anna Christie “one of the big dramas of the day, soundly human, impressively true in characterization and, in its bigger moments, intensely dramatic.” While the Arthur Hopkins–produced drama may be more commercially slanted than many other O'Neill plays, it has remained eminently theatrical and has enjoyed a number of revivals, including Broadway productions with Celeste Holm in 1952, Liv Ullman in 1977, and Natasha Richardson in 1993. The play was also turned into the musical NEW GIRL IN TOWN (1957) with a book by George Abbott and songs by Bob Merrill. With Gwen Verdon cast as Anna, the role became a dancing one, and Bob Fosse's choreography was quite ingenious. Cameron Prud'homme was Chris, George Wallace was Matt, and Thelma Ritter often stole the show as the earthy barfly Marthy. The Hal Prince production played at the 46th Street Theatre for 431 performances. Notable songs: It's Good to Be Alive; Flings; Sunshine Girl.