how many of you have read the book and seen the movie (or own either one?)

I have a VHS tape of the movie that I got back in 1988. It has an "ad" tacked on to it about GF AND A (Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, the final episode) on VHS.
I also have a copy of the book that I bought way back in 75.

I've read the book (and a few of the sequels) and the play....and I have of course seen the movie and the episodes. I don't particularly like the book/movie because they're so much darker than the episodes.

it was also a PLAY? I never knew that!!! When? How similar to the movie, book, and show is it? Does it have all the same characters? Who starred in it?

Well, the play is pretty much the movie made for stage. I don't really know the history of when it was performed or anything, but we did it my junior year of high school. It's got all the same characters as the movie...even has the whole scene with the dentist (which may not have been the most appropriate thing for a high school, but oh well).