Luv

Luv (1964), a comedy by Murray Schisgal. [Booth Theatre, 901 perf.] When Milt Manville ( Eli Wallach) comes across his old college buddy, Harry Berlin ( Alan Arkin), about to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge, he is so casual and courteous that Harry changes his mind, climbs down, and throws away his suicide note. It turns out that Milt, locked in a seemingly hopeless marriage and anxious to wed another girl, is as unhappy as Harry. In a moment of inspiration Milt decides to solve all their problems by foisting his wife, Ellen ( Anne Jackson), on his friend. His plan works at first. Harry and Ellen wed, and so do Milt and his young girlfriend. However, after a few months Milt decides he wants Ellen back. To achieve this he plans to murder Harry. The plan misfires but Milt and Ellen are reunited and Harry is left to climb a lamppost to escape a vicious dog. Another of the many small‐cast (three actors) plays of the era, this comedy was funnier and filled with more imaginative turns of plot than most. A musical version called What About Luv? has found some success regionally. Murray SCHISGAL (b. 1926) was born in Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn Law School. He earned recognition when his double bill The Typists and The Tiger (1963) was presented Off Broadway. None of his subsequent works matched Luv's popularity, though many contained a similar kind of comic absurdity. They include Jimmy Shine (1968), The Chinese and Dr. Fish (1970), All Over Town (1974), Twice Around the Park (1982), and Road Show (1987).