6 Rms Riv Vu: A comedy in two acts

by Bob Randall

From 6 Rms Riv Vu derives its title from shorthand used by realtors in classified advertising. In this case, a six-room apartment with a view of the Hudson River, located on Manhattan's Riverside Drive, serves as the comedy-drama's setting. Paul Friedman is a married advertising copywriter, Anne Miller is a discontented housewife, and the two meet when they respond to a New York Times listing for the available unit. They discover the door has been locked accidentally, trapping them inside, and a connection slowly develops as they begin to share the details of their respective lives. After nine previews, the Alexander H. Cohen production, directed by Edwin Sherin, had its Broadway premiere on October 17, 1972 at the Helen Hayes Theatre, where it ran for three months before transferring to the Lunt Fontanne for the remainder of its run, a total of 247 performances. The opening night cast included Jane Alexander, Jerry Orbach, Ron Harper, F. Murray Abraham, and Jennifer Warren. In 1974, Carol Burnett and Alan Alda starred in a televised version that garnered both of them Emmy Award nominations.

Genres: Plays

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been in love with this play forever it seems. Actually since around 1973 or shortly thereafter which was when one very late night after a long, long day with a toddler and an infant (finally they were asleep) I sat on a wooden dining room chair in a room with vinyl floor tiles and furnished with shelves of children's toys and a television set switching through the channels -- remotes were relatively new and simple then or after the day I'd had I might not have been able to get the set turned on let alone find a live performance broadcast of this play on some PBS channel with Alan Alda and Carol Burnett in the star roles.

But I did find this. And I did watch it. All alone on that hard dining room chair sometime close to midnight, I sat mesmerized and laughed till the tears ran and my sides hurt then cried till I could barely breathe. I even scolded myself softly out loud to quiet down or I'd wake those sleeping babies. This clean sweet, sad truth wrapped in staging and dialogue hit me like an Ali punch in the gut, in the heart, in my being and I've never forgotten it. I LOVE this play!

[William Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic 1970 romantic comedy. Charming without being at all sappy, superbly yet effortlessly written. Even more of a feat in that, aside from several small part characters, the play is mostly a two-hander.

A gem.

Would have loved to see Jane Alexander & Jerry Orbach onstage in it, with a small early part by F Murray Abraham. I’m definitely going to track down the Carol Burnett-Alan Alda TV movie version.

[Sara Scopp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't care for it. The dialogue was contrived. The plot was contrived. I think it's a child of its time.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good play, very funny. The video with Alda and Burnett makes for great viewing.

[Brian McCann · Rating 3 out of 5]

2017 ==> A minor, belabored comedy.

2023 ==> I think I enjoyed its simplicity more with this reading. It’s a chestnut from the early 1970s that would not be on Broadway today.