Cloud 9 - Lucille Lortel Theatre

April 07, 2025

Cloud 9 - Lucille Lortel Theatre

December 1982 Playbill

Michel Stuart & Harvey J. Klaris

in association with Michael Kleinman productions present:

Cloud 9

A new play by Caryl Churchill

(in alphabetical order)

Judith Barcroft Barry Cullison Caroline Kava

James Lecesne Sherry Steiner Stephen Stout Lenny Von Dohlen

Sets by Lawrence Miller

Costumes by Michel Stuart & Gene London

Lighting by Marcia Madeira

Title Song and Incidental Music by Maury Yeston

Sound by Warren Holden

Hair Supervised by Michael Gottfried

Production Manager --- Murray Gitlin

General Management --- Weiler/Miller

Associate Producer --- Mark Beigalman

Directed by Tommy Tune

ACT I

Clive..............................Steven Stout
Betty.............................Lenny Von Dohlen
Joshua..........................James Lecesne

Edward.........................Sherry Steiner

Victoria.........................As Herself

Maud............................Caroline Kava

Ellen/Mrs. Saunders..,,Judith Barcroft

Harry Bagley................Barry Cullison

ACT II

Betty.........................Judith Barcroft

Edward.....................Steven Stout

Victoria.....................Sherry Steiner

Martin.......................Barry Cullison

Lin.............................Caroline Kava

Cathy.........................James Lecesne

Gerry.........................Lenny Von Dohlen

Mr. Von Dohlen's biography in this Playbill reads:

Portrayed Hal in Loot this Summer at the Oregon Contemporary Theatre. He will be seen as Robert Dennis in the soon-to-be-released Universal film Tender Mercies with Robert Duvall. He made his television debut as Cal on NBC's Emmy-award winning "Kent State" and was just featured on PBS as Ricky in "Mother May I?" In New York he originated the role of Robert Weisner in Twister at the Academy Arts Theatre and participated in new play readings at the Phoenix Theatre, The Actors Studio, and Playwrights Horizons. Last Fall he originated the role of Richard Cardone in The Chinese Viewing Pavilion at the BoarsHead Theatre in Lansing Michigan.

The Plot Synopsis From Wikipedia:

Act I

Clive, a British colonial administrator, lives with his family, a governess and servant during turbulent times in Africa. The natives are rioting, and Mrs Saunders, a widow, comes to them to seek safety. Her arrival is soon followed by Harry Bagley, an explorer. Clive makes passionate advances to Mrs Saunders, his wife Betty fancies Harry, who secretly has sex with Joshua, and later with Clive's son, Edward. The governess Ellen, who reveals herself to be a lesbian, is forced into marriage with Harry after his sexuality is discovered and condemned by Clive. Act 1 ends with the wedding celebrations; the final scene of the first act ends with Clive giving a speech while Joshua, watched by Edward (who does nothing), aims his rifle at him and fires as the scene ends with a blackout.

Act II

Although Act II is set in 1979, some of the characters of Act I reappear – for them, only 25 years have passed. Betty has left Clive, her daughter Victoria is now married to an overbearing Martin, and Edward has an openly gay relationship with Gerry. Victoria, upset and distant from Martin, starts a lesbian relationship with Lin. When Gerry leaves Edward, Edward, who discovers he is in fact bisexual, moves in with his sister and Lin. The three of them have a drunken ceremony in which they call up the Goddess, after which characters from Act I begin appearing. Act II has a looser structure, and Churchill played around with the ordering of the scenes. The final scene shows that Victoria has left Martin for a polyamorous relationship with Edward and Lin, and they are sharing custody of their son Tommy. Gerry and Edward are on good terms again, and Betty becomes friends with Gerry, who tells her about Edward's sexuality.

Mr. Von Dohlen stated he performed Cloud 9 for eight months at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. "Eight months for eight shows a week." I have found Playbills featuring his name from November and December of 1982 and January, February and March of 1983.

To my awareness, no images of Mr. Von Dohlen as Betty are currently publicly available. I can share my opinion that his transformation was more visually believable than the usually purely comedic portrayals of the character.

Judith Barcroft as Betty and Lenny Von Dohlen as Gerry