Lemmon Cancels Appearance at Hasty Pudding

Academy Award-winning actor Jack Lemmon '47 abruptly cancelled a scheduled appearance with the Hasty Pudding Theatricals (HPT) last night. The show, originally slated for Nov. 3 and 4, will be postponed indefinitely.

Lemmon's agent, David Seltzer, proposed to the HPT this summer that the actor star alongside his wife, Felicia Farr, in a production of A. R. Gurney's two-person play "Love Letters." Details were finalized last week, and the HPT had already sent out a press release announcing the performances at the 360-seat Hasty Pudding Theater when Seltzer called to cancel.

HPT co-producer Ben S. Forkner '01 said that the performances were being put off because of "unavoidable scheduling conflicts."

"It's a huge letdown for the Theatricals," Forkner said, adding that the show would have marked "the first time in recent memory" the HPT would have featured an actor of Lemmon's stature.

Lemmon, who won the Best Actor Oscar in 1973 for Save the Tiger, has headlined such films as Some Like it Hot, The Odd Couple and Grumpy Old Men.

But the decision did not shock HPT leaders.

"It wasn't much of a bombshell," Forkner said. "We always acknowledged the possibility that it wouldn't pan out."

Despite the announcement, Forkner said the show might still take place at some point.

"Jack Lemmon really wants to do it and he felt really bad," he said. "We're still hopeful he'll be able to do it this year."

The financial implications of the cancellation for the HPT, which is preparing to move out of its theater because of planned renovations, are unclear. The group had hoped to use some of the event's proceeds to pay for theater space in the coming months.

The Institute of 1770, the HPT's parent organization, signed a letter of intent this spring to transfer ownership of its building to Harvard, in part due to arrears owed the University.

The Nov. 3 show would have been open exclusively to undergraduates, with tickets selling for $9.

The next night, by contrast, was described by Forkner as a "benefit show." Lemmon and Farr said they would donate the proceeds from the $50-a-head black-tie event to the Theatricals. The organization could have grossed up to $18,000 from this performance, Forkner said

Before the show was cancelled, HPT leaders crowed at the expected financial windfall.

"It comes at a very fortunate time for us because of the relocation, helping with costs associated with that," said co-producer Suzanne M. Pomey '02 before the cancellation. "When renovations start, we'll probably have to move into Boston and pay for that. And then we'll have to pay for transportation."

Pomey did point out that Lemmon's decision to perform "Love Letters" was not related to the group's financial situation and that the actor did not know about the impending move when he contacted the HPT.

Despite the loss in projected revenue, Forkner said that the cancellation would be far from a mortal blow for the HPT and that the group is not planning a major fundraising campaign to compensate.

"The Theatricals will certainly survive," he said. "We've been around for 150 years, and last year we sold out 99 percent of the seats for 40 Cambridge shows."

When the Theatricals will need the money will be decided by the courts. Harvard, which is the beneficiary of the trust which owns the building, announced last spring that it intended to renovate the premises. But a lawsuit filed against Harvard by Up Stairs at the Pudding, the restaurant occupying the top floor of the building, is delaying Harvard's plans.

Seltzer did not return phone calls asking for comment.