The Leaf People, at its first performance in the mid 70's-Joe Papp came out beforehand to welcome us to this adventure. I bought tickets because novice that I was, I knew he produced A Chorus Line and I couldn't get in, so- The Leaf People was my intro to Broadway. I still have the Playbill!
The plot concerned the first interaction between the natives in the Amazon and the 'civilized' caucasians, I seem to recall. The natives talked "leaf-talk" throughout while two people were suspended over the stage in test tube like cylinders to translate. It was very disjarring, to say the least. When natives carried Totems onto the stage, a couple got enmeshed in the hanging vines and after much tugging, were magically pulled straight up and out of sight. I also recall a rather vulgar scene when a young woman was finger poked to check her virginity status. My first nudity on stage followed by Oh, Calcutta the following day (how dismal).
One of the worst productions I've ever seen! I've never, in all my years of theatre going heard anyone else ever even refer to this turkey. Perhaps any astounding reputation was with insiders since it was a completely forgettable experience. Joe Papp tried to soften the blow beforehand much like the director did before Women on the Verge when I attended the second preview.
Updated On: 5/27/11 at 11:23 AM