Something Different (play)

Something Different is a 1967 comedy play by Carl Reiner. Reiner directed the original production which starred Bob Dishy.

The play was profiled in the William Goldman book The Season: A Candid Look at Broadway. Goldman was a tremendous admirer of the play.

Reiner later wrote " Of all the experiences I've had in show business, the writing and directing of Something Different was by far the most memorable. In terms of excitement, terror, joy, sadness, anger, frustration, elation, and depression, nothing even comes close."

During previews, it was decided to drop the entire third act. Reiner recalled "Something Different was a playwithin-a-play-within-a-play-within-a-playwithin-a-play and I was proud to have written something original. The reaction of the opening-night audience in New Haven was mixed. There were huge laughs in the first two acts and in the third act there were fewer laughs and huge walkouts. Half the audience left and the other half remained to cheer. "

According to Reiner the change worked during the remaining previews. "Clive Barnes from The New York Times saw a preview. I couldn’t have asked for a better performance from the cast, but he didn’t understand it. Walter Kerr came opening night, which was a dull performance. He saw the same play, not performed as well because the audience was not as responsive, and he gave it a great review. But his Sunday review didn’t run until three weeks after we opened, and by then the boat had sailed."