''A Memory of Two Mondays'' is a one-act play by Arthur Miller. He began writing the play in 1952, while working on '' The Crucible'', and completed it in 1955. Based on Miller's own experiences, the play focuses on a group of desperate workers earning their livings in a Brooklyn automobile parts warehouse during the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

in the 1930s, a time of 25 percent unemployment in the United States. Concentrating more on character than plot, it explores the dreams of a young man yearning for a college education in the midst of people stumbling through the workday in a haze of hopelessness and despondency. Three of the characters in the story have severe problems with alcoholism. Paired with the original one-act version of ''

A View from the Bridge ''A View from the Bridge'' is a play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It was first staged on September 29, 1955, as a one-act verse drama with ''A Memory of Two Mondays'' at the Coronet Theatre on Broadway. The run was unsuccessful, and M ...

'', the first Broadway production, directed by Martin Ritt, opened on September 29, 1955, at the Coronet Theatre, where it ran for 149 performances. The cast included Van Heflin,

J. Carrol Naish Joseph Patrick Carrol Naish (January 21, 1896 – January 24, 1973) was an American actor. He appeared in over 200 credits during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Naish received two Oscar nominations for his supporting roles in the films '' Sahara ...

, Jack Warden, Eileen Heckart, and Richard Davalos, who won the Theatre World Award for his performance. In 1959, Miller adapted the play for an ITV broadcast starring

Alan Bates Sir Alan Arthur Bates (17 February 1934 – 27 December 2003) was an English actor who came to prominence in the 1960s, when he appeared in films ranging from the popular children's story '' Whistle Down the Wind'' to the " kitchen sink" dram ...

. Miller adapted the play for a 1971 television movie directed by

Paul Bogart Paul Bogart (né Bogoff; November 13, 1919 – April 15, 2012) was an American television director and producer. Bogart directed episodes of the television series Way Out'' in 1961, ''Coronet Blue'' in 1967, ''Get Smart'', '' The Dumplings'' ...

, '' A Memory of Two Mondays''. After seven previews, a Broadway revival directed by Arvin Brown opened on January 26, 1976, at the Playhouse Theatre where, paired this time with ''

27 Wagons Full of Cotton This is a list of the one-act plays written by American playwright Tennessee Williams. 1930s ''Beauty Is the Word'' ''Beauty Is the Word'' is Tennessee Williams' first play. The 12-page one-act was written in 1930 while Williams was a freshman a ...

'' by Tennessee Williams, it ran for 67 performances. The cast included Thomas Hulce,

John Lithgow John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. Lithgow studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his work on the stage and screen. He has been the recipient of numerous ...

, Tony Musante, Joe Grifasi, and Meryl Streep.

1976 awards and nominations

* Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (Streep, nominee) * Theatre World Award (Streep, winner) *

Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...

for Outstanding Actress in a Play (Streep, nominee) *Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Leonardo Cimino and Roy Poole, nominees) *Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Alice Drummond, nominee) *Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (nominee) *Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design (nominee) *Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design (nominee) *Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design (nominee) *Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival (nominee)

References

External links

1955 production at the Internet Theatre Database1976 production at the Internet Theatre Database listing
{{DEFAULTSORT:Memory Of Two Mondays, A 1955 plays Broadway plays Plays by Arthur Miller One-act plays Plays set in the 1930s Plays set in New York City Brooklyn in fiction American plays adapted into films