Everybody Comes To Rick's

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 4/20/20 at 1:05am

I recently learned that the classic film "Casablanca", one of the greats of 20th century cinema, was based on a stage play (unproduced at the time of the film's making) called Everybody Comes To Rick's. I've done some digging and I see that the play was not produced until decades later (largely because of rights disputes between the authors and Warner Bros, it seems). 

I see that the play was first produced at the Whitehall Theatre in London in 1991 and enjoyed a short run of six weeks. It starred Leslie Grantham as the titular Rick. I've seen some evidence that the play has been produced other times, including at James Madison University sometime in the 90's, but have not come across records of major/professional productions other than the West End premiere in '91. 

Has anyone attended a production of Everybody Comes To Rick's, either the '91 London production or otherwise? Any thoughts or memories that you'd care to share?