Following the success of the English production of "Romeo and Juliet", which had also toured in New York, and after the failed attempt to create "La traviata" as an opera film starring Maria Callas, Zeffirelli decided to stage a play based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas fils, which inspired Verdi's opera.
The authors of the theatrical adaptation of the novel were Giles Cooper, a renowned British playwright, and the very young Terrence McNally, who later became a multi-award-winning American playwright and librettist. The costumes were designed by Marcel Escoffier, with the women's costumes crafted by Pierre Cardin's atelier. The research for the set designs was carried out in France by Lila de Nobili and her collaborators.
The cast included Susan Strasberg, in one of her rare stage appearances, and John Stride, who had previously played Romeo alongside Judi Dench.
The production was not successful and remained on stage for only a few performances. The Archive preserves significant documentation of the set designs.