Robert Weede's understudy, Robert Rue (a student of Weede's), went on for Weede at the single New York preview, which was on Monday, October 9, 1961. According to a report in the New York Times, Weede had come down with "a respiratory infection and other inflammations." It was announced that the opening might be postponed till Friday, but Weede was well enough to go on as scheduled for opening night on Tuesday, October 10.