- For the 1939 George Cukor film based on the play, see The Women (1939 film). For the 2008 remake, see The Women (2008 film).
The Women is a comedy of manners by Clare Boothe Luce. The play is an acidic commentary on the pampered lives and power struggles of various wealthy Manhattan socialites and up-and-comers and the gossip that propels and damages their relationships. While men frequently are the subject of their lively discussions and play an important role in the action on-stage, they are strictly characters mentioned but never seen. The original Broadway production, directed by Robert B. Sinclair, opened on December 26, 1936 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where it ran for 657 performances with an all-female cast that included Arlene Francis, Ilka Chase, and Marjorie Main. After seven previews, a revival directed by Morton Da Costa opened on April 25, 1973 at the 46th Street Theatre, where it ran for only 63 performances. The cast included Dorothy Loudon, Myrna Loy, Alexis Smith, Kim Hunter, Rhonda Fleming, Jan Miner, and Camila Ashland. Other productions have starred Gloria Swanson and Elaine Stritch After 32 previews, a second revival directed by Scott Elliott opened on November 8, 2001 at the American Airlines Theatre, where it ran for 77 performances. The cast included Kristen Johnston, Rue McClanahan, Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Coolidge, Jennifer Tilly, Heather Matarazzo, and Hallie Kate Eisenberg. Fashion guru Isaac Mizrahi won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design, and Coolidge was nominated as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. The 1939 film version was directed by George Cukor. In 1956, the story was made into a musical film titled The Opposite Sex, starring June Allyson and Joan Collins. In August 2007, director Diane English began filming a long-in-development contemporary remake of the film, starring Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, and Annette Bening. The film will be released in 2008.
