View source for I'm Not Rappaport

{{Short description|1984 play by Herb Gardner}}
{{for|the 1996 film|I'm Not Rappaport (film)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox play
| name       = I'm Not Rappaport
| image      = 
| image_size = 
| caption    = 
| writer     = [[Herb Gardner]]
| characters = Nat<br />Midge<br />Gilley<br />Danforth<br />Laurie<br />Clara<br />The Cowboy
| setting    = A park bench in Central Park; October 1982
| premiere   = 1984
| place      = [[Seattle Repertory Theatre]]<br />[[Seattle, Washington]]
| orig_lang  = [[English language|English]]
| subject    = 
| genre      = Comedy
| web        = 
}}

'''''I'm Not Rappaport''''' is a play by [[Herb Gardner]], which originally ran on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in 1985.

==Productions==
The play was originally staged by [[Seattle Repertory Theatre]] in 1984.<ref>[http://www.seattlerep.org/About/History/ProductionHistory/1980s/1984 "Production History, 1984-85"] seattlerep.org, accessed November 13, 2015</ref>

The play premiered on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at the [[Booth Theatre]] on November 19, 1985, and closed on January 17, 1988 after 891 performances. Directed by [[Daniel Sullivan (director)|Daniel Sullivan]], the cast starred  [[Judd Hirsch]] (Nat), [[Cleavon Little]] (Midge Carter), [[Jace Alexander]] (Gilley), and [[Mercedes Ruehl]] (Clara).<ref name=vault>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/13333/Im-Not-Rappaport "' I'm Not Rappaport' Broadway"] playbillvault.com, accessed November 13, 2015</ref>

The production received [[Tony Award]]s for Best Play, Best Lighting Design, and Best Actor (Judd Hirsch).

Sherman Hemsley starred in the play in 1987 in Calgary. 

A revival opened at the Booth Theatre on July 25, 2002, where it ran for 53 performances and 15 previews. Again directed by Sullivan, Hirsch reprised his role and was joined by [[Ben Vereen]].<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/1665/Im-Not-Rappaport "'I'm Not Rappaport' Broadway, 2002"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021409/http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/1665/Im-Not-Rappaport |date=2015-11-17 }} playbillvault.com, accessed November 13, 2015</ref><ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/broadways-im-not-rappaport-closes-sept.-8-108116# "Broadway's 'I'm Not Rappaport' Closes Sept. 8"] Playbill, September 8, 2002</ref>

Prior to the Broadway 2002 production, the play had engagements at three regional venues: the Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami in January 2002;  Ford's Theater, Washington, DC in February 2002; and the Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey in February and March 2002. The play, directed by Sullivan starred Hirsch and Ben Vereen.<ref>Jones, Kenneth and [[Simonson, Robert]]. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/rappaport-plays-njs-paper-mill-feb.-20-march-24-is-bway-next-103852# "Rappaport Plays NJ's Paper Mill Feb. 20-March 24; Is Bway Next?"] Playbill, February 7, 2002</ref>

==Plot==
Inspired by two elderly men Gardner met in [[New York City]]'s [[Central Park]], the play focuses on Nat Moyer, a feisty [[Jew]], and Midge Carter, a cantankerous [[African-American]], who spend their days sitting on a bench. They both mask the realities of aging, sharing tall tales that Nat spins. The play touches on several issues, including society's treatment of the aging, the difficulties dealing with adult children who think they know what's best for their parents, and the dangers that lurk in urban areas.

Its title comes from an old [[vaudeville]] joke, a variation of which evolved into dialogue between the two [[protagonists]]:

<blockquote>
*Nat: Hey, Rappaport! I haven't seen you in ages. How have you been?
*Midge: I'm not Rappaport.
*Nat: Rappaport, what happened to you? You used to be a short fat guy, and now you're a tall skinny guy.
*Midge: I'm not Rappaport.
*Nat: Rappaport, you used to be a young guy with a beard, and now you're an old guy with a mustache.
*Midge: I'm not Rappaport.
*Nat: Rappaport, how has this happened? You used to be a cowardly little white guy, and now you're a big imposing black guy.
*Midge: I'm not Rappaport.
*Nat: And you changed your name, too!
</blockquote>

==Film adaptation==
{{main|I'm Not Rappaport (film)}}
The 1996 film version, written and directed by Gardner, starred [[Walter Matthau]], [[Ossie Davis]], [[Amy Irving]], [[Craig T. Nelson]], [[Martha Plimpton]], [[Peter Friedman]], and [[Ron Rifkin]].

== Adaptations ==
In 1986 at the Apollo Theatre London, the part of Nat was played by [[Paul Scofield]].<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/paul-scofield-oscarwinning-actor-whose-phenomenal-range-was-unmatched-in-his-generation-798984.html] ''The Independent''</ref>

In 2012, a theatre group in Germany had come under fire for allowing a white actor to [[Blackface|paint his face]] and take the part of the black character Midge Carter on stage.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16492222] BBC, January 10, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012</ref> 
<ref>[http://theater-kr-mg.de/160-10-5451.htm] Homepage of Theater Krefeld/Mönchengladbach. Retrieved August 16, 2012
 {{Dead link|date=January 2021}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pascale-bordet.odexpo.com/diaporama.asp?galerie=6438&ng=Diaporama&entete=] Webpage of Pascale Bordet. Retrieved August 16, 2012
 {{Dead link|date=January 2021}}</ref>

In 2014, a Spanish speaking adaptation, Parque Lezama, premiered at the Teatro Liceo, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was directed by Academy Award winner [[Juan José Campanella]],<ref>[https://www.clarin.com/cine-y-teatro/luis_brandoni-juan_jose_campanella-eduardo_blanco-parque_lezama-teatro_0_S1_5fRFPmx.html Reestreno en el Teatro Liceo Parque Lezama, el “debut teatral” de Campanella]  1-3-2014, ''[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarín]]'' {{in lang|es}}</ref> and starred [[Eduardo Blanco (actor)|Eduardo Blanco]] (as Antonio/Midge) and [[Luis Brandoni]] (as León/Nat).<ref>[https://www.diarioregistrado.com/cultura/parque-lezama-y-el-despertar-de-la-risa_a57d9a93cd17589f27a53c9e5 Parque Lezama y el despertar de la risa]  9-14-2016, ''Diario Registrado'' {{in lang|es}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations== <!--non-performance awards only -->
Source: PlaybillVault<ref name=vault/>

* 1986 [[Tony Award for Best Play]]—winner
* 1986 Tony Award, Actor in a Play (Hirsch) -- winner
* 1986 Tony Award, Lighting Design (Play or Musical) (Pat Collins) -- winner
* 1986 Outer Critics Circle Award, John Gassner Award (Gardner) -- winner
*1986 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Hirsch) -- winner
*1986 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding New Broadway Play—winner

==References==
{{Reflist}}

* {{cite book | editor-last=Napierkowski | editor-first=Marie Rose  | title=Drama for Students: I'm Not Rappaport | volume=18| location=Detroit | publisher=Gale; eNotes.com | orig-year=1998 | date=January 2006 | url=http://www.enotes.com/im-rappaport | access-date=2008-06-26}}

==External links==
* {{IBDB show|4623}}
* {{IBDB title|4384|I'm Not Rappaport {{noitalic|(1985 production)}}}}
* {{IBDB title|13369|I'm Not Rappaport {{noitalic|(2002 production)}}}}
* {{IOBDB title|1454|I'm Not Rappaport {{noitalic|(1985 production)}}}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q4818911|title=I'm Not Rappaport|description=(1996 film)}}

{{TonyAwardBestPlay 1976-2000}}

[[Category:1985 plays]]
[[Category:Broadway plays]]
[[Category:Plays by Herb Gardner]]
[[Category:Tony Award–winning plays]]
[[Category:American plays adapted into films]]
[[Category:Plays set in New York City]]
[[Category:Works about old age]]