Jenni Barber will play the pivotal role of Toni in the previously announced off-Broadway revival of Abe Burrows’ Cactus Flower, joining Maxwell Caulfield and Lois Robbins. The production will begin performances on February 24 and open on March 10 at the Westside Theatre, directed by Michael Bush.
In addition to Barber, Emily Walton (August: Osage County) completes a cast that will includes previously announced players Jeremy Bobb, John Herrera, Anthony Reimer and Robin Skye.
Cactus Flower follows Julian Winston (Caulfield), a handsome, middle-aged dentist who finds himself in trouble when he lies to his young girlfriend, Toni (Barber), by claiming he is already married. The girlfriend then demands to meet his fictional wife (Robbins). The comedy first opened on Broadway on December 8, 1965, and ran for 1,234 performances. A 1969 film adaptation starred Walter Matthau, Oscar winner Goldie Hawn and Ingrid Bergman.
Barber has appeared on Broadway in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and off-Broadway in From Up Here. Her TV credits include Law & Order: SVU and a regular role in The Electric Company.
As Broadway.com reported, the off-Broadway revival of Cactus Flower comes in the same month that Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler will open in Just Go With It, a big-screen comedy inspired by the play and movie. Cactus Flower is being produced by Daryl Roth and Stonehill Productions.