Program for "CHE!"

Lennox Raphael, Ed Wode, Paul Georgiou, Henry Raymont

Published by Free Store Theatre New York, NY, 1969

About this Item

2 vol. : 1 vol. [8] pp. : 1 vol. [1] pp.; 2 vol. : 1 vol. 21.5 x 17.5 cm. : 1 vol. 15.8 x 15.5 cm.; loose leaves; black-and-white; edition size unknown; unsigned and unnumbered; mimeograph Program for first production of "CHE!" by Lennox Raphael, directed by Ed Wode. Program incorprates drawings and handwrtten "foreplay" text, cast list, and production notes. Additionally includes slipped in March 21, 1969, New York Times clipping describing nude performance of "Che!" by actor Paul Georgiou, written by Henry Raymont. "A young policeman watched in disbelief as the lanky, bearded actor stepped out of a black limousine wearing nothing but an Uncle Sam hat and a red, white and blue sash strung around his waist. The actor, Paul Georgiou, crossed the sidewalk into the 120-seat off-Off Broadway Free Store Theater at 14 Cooper Square, where a well-dressed audience paid $10.50 each Saturday night to see the opening of a new play, 'Che.' Since he was playing one of the leading roles, the President, he had to remain in his costume for two hours. The young policeman shrugged his shoulders when he was asked if walking about nude in New York streets was no longer considered a legal offense: 'The courts have ruled that there has to be intent to shock before we can act.' ? But the opening-night audience was more receptive, and after the President shot Che at the end of the play, it broke into applause and shouted 'author' until Mr. Raphael appeared for a bow. The producer and director of 'Che!' is Ed Wode, who said he was also financing the production. In the audience, there were critics and theater people who considered the play to represent a new test of what the authorities will tolerate on the stage. They regarded the play as a possible guideline for 'Oh Calcutta,' an erotic revue planned for production here by the English drama critic Kenneth Tynan. Reports indicate that the revue is to include actual sexual intercourse. Deputy Inspector Joseph Fink, whose Ninth Precinct holds jurisdiction over the East Village and who has a patrolman at the Free Store Theater, said that the District Attorney's office would have to make its own assessment of the virtue of he play this week. 'We have no intention of acting as censors,' he said in an interview. 'This is a problem the Supreme Court couldn't agree on, so please don't ask us to rule on what is art or how far it can go before it becomes hard-core pornography. We have no guidelines, and so far we've had no complaints.'" ? from New York Times article. Very Good. Bumping of corners. Horizontal crease through center. "MAR 21 1969" rubberstamped on newspaper article and on colophon of program. Red marker boundaries drawn on newpaper article. Otherwise clean and unmarked.

Seller Inventory # 40113

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Program for "CHE!"
• Publisher: Free Store Theatre New York, NY
• Publication Date: 1969
• Binding: Soft cover