Forty Carats
Forty Carats is a play by Jay Presson Allen. Adapted from the French original by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Gredy, the comedy revolves around a 40-year-old American divorcee who is assisted by a 22-year-old when her car breaks down during a vacation in Greece. Their ensuing romantic interlude changes from a brief encounter to a potentially serious relationship when he turns up on her New York City doorstep to take her 17-year-old daughter on a date. Finding the attraction between them still irresistibly strong, she must overcome her resistance to a May–December romance while contending with her mother, ex-husband, and a real estate client who would like to discuss more than business.
| Forty Carats | |
|---|---|
 Broadway Playbill with June Allyson | |
| Written by | Jay Presson Allen |
| Date premiered | December 26, 1968 |
| Place premiered | Morosco Theatre New York City |
| Genre | Comedy |
After two previews, the Broadway production, directed by Abe Burrows, opened on December 26, 1968, at the Morosco Theatre, where it ran for 780 performances. The opening-night cast included Julie Harris, Franklin Cover, Glenda Farrell, Murray Hamilton, Nancy Marchand, Marco St John, and Michael Nouri.
Julie Harris won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, in the lead role and she was succeeded by June Allyson, Joan Fontaine, and Zsa Zsa Gabor throughout the run.
The 1973 film adaptation starred Liv Ullmann.