Casablanca: A Staged Radio Play
by Raconteur Radio
Sponsored by Rémy Cointreau
"...all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, and she walks into mine."
--Rick Blaine
Perhaps the greatest movie of all time, Casablanca celebrates its 80th anniversary, while we celebrate our 25th. Raconteur Radio will stage an old-time Radio Play Production of Casablanca at Stage Left Steak on Sunday, July 16 at 7 PM. Dine before or after the show (in Stage Left Steak OR Catherine Lombardi) and the performance is just $20.
This WWII classic takes place in Casablanca and tells the tale of mysterious nightclub owner, Rick Blaine, his old flame Ilsa Lund and Victor Lazlo, her husband and the daring leader of the Czech underground. Skeletons fall out of closets as quickly as the characters knock down drinks. It’s an epic tale of spies, Nazis, unrequited love and... a fabulous cocktail joint.
Cocktails in Casablanca
Casablanca is also one of the greatest drinks movies of all time. When Rick's spurned flame, Yvonne, shows up with her new Nazi squeeze, he orders a French 75. Ironically, that drink (by Harry MacElhone), is named after the French Army's 75mm field artillery from the First World War.
In addition to Champagne, whisky and various unnamed cocktails, hero Victor Laszlo, orders a Cointreau at the bar. That’s the only brand named liquor in the film, so it’s fitting that Cointreau is our sponsor for the evening.
Featured Cocktails
The French 125 (a French 75 with Rémy Martin Cognac instead of Gin)
History of this cocktail noted above.
The Greatest Generation Cocktail (based on the WWII B2C2 Cocktail)
The B2C2 was invented by American Troops in WWII. The German army had left behind caches of stolen French liquor: Benedictine, Brandy, Cointreau and Champagne as they retreated across the Rhine. The thirsty Americans were not conversant in the fine arts of French liquors but invented the B2C2 cocktail and promptly drank it all. We tweak it with a little Aperol. We name it after a generation far superior to our own.
RaconteurRadio stages theatrical presentations of vintage radio plays, classic works of literature, and pop culture parodies for live audiences throughout the Tri-State area.
They've been called "family friendly guerrilla theater" by the New York Times, one of "the 7 best things to do in NJ" by the Newark Star-Ledger, "Epic!" by Lev Grossman (of Time Magazine) Utterly unique!" by Kyle Hartzell (of NPR), "Dazzling!" by Megan Ryan (of WNYC), "Spellbinding!" by Tom Lynch (of Theatre World), "Thrilling!" by Barry Monush (of the Museum of Television & Radio), "innovative & entertaining" by MyCentralJersey.com, and "Outstanding!" by Lee Pfeiffer (of Cinema Retro Magazine). www.RaconteurRadio.com