"Thieves" from 1974 - anyone recall this show?

I was reading an old interview with actress Valerie Harper from 1974, when she launched 'Rhoda' on CBS that Fall. In the interview she clarifies what happened with the play 'Thieves' which she starred in on the out-of-town-tryout in Boston in late 1973 /early 1974, but left the show before it made it to Broadway in the Spring of 1974.

Harper said the rumors that she 'walked off' in the middle of the run due to conflicts with the rest of the cast were totally untrue. She said she was fired from the show by writer Herb Gardner, who wanted to give the role to his then-new girlfriend, Marlo Thomas. (Harper has explained this a few times since then, including in her memoir from 2013). Thomas eventually replaced Harper on Broadway in April, 1974.

Thomas has always told a different story - that her 'friend' Gardner was having trouble with the leading lady (who was not getting along with anyone during the Boston run) and the (unnamed) leading lady decided to quit the show during it's run. Thomas offered to step into the show so her friend wouldn't take a loss, and then she eventually went with it to New York (where the show ran from April 1974 - January 1975). Thomas also starred in the 1977 movie.

Does anyone here remember all the drama surrounding this show back then? Anyone know which actress is telling the truth? Anyone here with inside information? Did anyone see this play in Boston or in NY? Any reviews or memories you would like to share?

I saw it in NY and don’t remember liking it except for Ms. Ann Wedgeworth. She was very funny. I remember the set was all these towering buildings with terraces and Ms. Wedgeworth was out on one and said something like, “I come out here every night and just start thinkin’ of all the people out there in the city doin’ it...”

I couldn’t believe how long it ran.

I never worked with Miss Harper except that I was a 17-year-old usher at a theater where she was appearing in STORY THEATRE. Even though the theater management had forbidden it, she gave me a lengthy (at least an hour) interview for my high school newspaper.

One of the nicest celebrities I have ever met.

Thank You all for sharing your memories.



For some reason, I came across this reference in the old Harper interview I was reading from 1974 and became intrigued by this - and what I 'googled' afterwards. The problems with the production, and Harper being accused of 'difficult' to work with - and then 'walking out on the production' in Boston.

I'm surprised that it was so bad yet it became a movie a few years later - with Marlo Thomas!

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "^ And Bob Fosse, in one of his few acting roles."

Bob Fosse played a bum as a favor to his friend Herb Gardner, who wrote the play. Charles Grodin, who replaced Michael Bennett as director would go on to co-star with Marlo Thomas in the 1977 film adaptation. Ann Wedgeworth also reprised her Broadway role in the film version. Interesting tid-bit: Ann Wedgeworth won a Tony Award for her performance in Neil Simon's "Chapter Two", when the film version was made her role went to......Valerie Harper.

Updated On: 7/13/19 at 10:46 PM