Description :

1946 Empire Theatre, O Mistress Mine (Lunt & Fontanne Comedy Classic)

This rare and authentic Playbill from the Empire Theatre’s 1946 Broadway production of O Mistress Mine—a romantic comedy by Terence Rattigan, adapted from his British hit While the Sun Shines—is a luminous artifact of post-war theatrical elegance. The production opened on January 23, 1946, and ran until May 31, 1947, totaling 482 performances, with two documented hiatuses: one from June 30 to August 25, 1946, and another from January 12 to February 23, 1947, the latter due to Alfred Lunt’s emergency kidney operation.

The show starred the legendary duo Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, whose refined comedic timing and romantic chemistry defined the production’s charm. Supporting cast included Dick Van Patten, Ann Lee, Esther Mitchell, Eva Leonard Boyne, and Marie Paxton, each contributing to the ensemble’s wit and sophistication.

Directed by Alfred Lunt, the production featured scenic design by Robert Davison, with Molyneux, the renowned Parisian couturier, designing custom dresses for Miss Fontanne, adding haute couture flair to the stage. Behind the scenes, the production was managed by C. Edwin Knill (General Manager), Lawrence Farrell (Company Manager), and Martin Manulis (Production Manager), with stage management by Charva Chester and Charles Bowden. Press representation was handled by Joseph Heidt and Peggy Phillips, ensuring the show’s cultural resonance was well documented.

Produced by The Theatre Guild and John C. Wilson, O Mistress Mine was staged at the Empire Theatre, a venue known for hosting some of Broadway’s most refined dramatic works. This Playbill, printed in monochrome ink and bound in classic saddle-stitch format, features a period-specific cover illustration that evokes the production’s romantic and comedic spirit.

It is not a reproduction, but a genuine, performance-issued artifact from the original run—ideal for collectors of Broadway ephemera, admirers of Lunt & Fontanne, and scholars of Anglo-American theatrical history.

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