Breakfast with Les and Bess was an off-Broadway play written by Lee Kalcheim that originally premiered at Hudson Guild Theatre in October 1982 before transferring to Lamb's Theatre in May 1983.

Plot synopsis

It follows a radio celebrity couple with a morning show, similar to "Breakfast with Dorothy and Dick" and Tex and Jinx. This time the show is fictional "Breakfast with Les and Bess". The show follows them on- and off-air with their radical son David and strange daughter Shelby in 1961 in a Central Park South flat. Also appearing, a lost interview with Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and the new rock-music that threatens to change their way of life.

Cast

The production at the Hudson Guild featured Holland Taylor as Bess, Keith Charles as Les, Amy Wright as Shelby, Tom Nolan as Roger, John Leonard as David, and Daniel Ziskie as Nate/Announcer. When it moved to Lamb's Theatre, the cast was as follows: Holland Taylor as Bess, Keith Charles as Les, Kelle Kipp as Shelby, Jeff McCracken as Roger, John Leonard as David, and Daniel Ziskie as Nate/Announcer. Productions were directed by Barnet Kellman, set design by Dean Tschetter, lighting design by Ian Calderon, costume design by Timothy Dunleavy, sound design by Michael Jay, and the stage manager was Andrea Naier.

Character descriptions

Play's Setting

Critical reception