Cell Mates (play)
Encyclopedia
Cell Mates is a play
by Simon Gray
. It opened at the Albery Theatre, London
on 17 February 1995, starring Stephen Fry
and Rik Mayall
, with Gray himself directing. Despite having performed successfully for several weeks during the pre-London warm up dates in Guildford and Watford, Fry left the London production after three days. His understudy
stepped in, until Fry was replaced by Simon Ward
. Nevertheless, the production closed on 25 March 1995.
In 2005, Gray released an autobiographical account of the production, called Fat Chance.
, who has been convicted for spying for the Russians and sentenced to forty-two years imprisonment, and a fellow prisoner, Sean Bourke
. Bourke helped Blake escape to Moscow
, after which Blake did not want to let him return to his native Ireland
.
famously walked out of the play near the start of its West End
run, after his performance received a bad review in the Financial Times
. It was reported at the time that he suffered an attack of stage fright
, but he has since disclosed that it was bipolar disorder
. Fry walked out of the production for good, leaving only an apology, and provoking its early closure.
Fry disappeared from the public eye, travelling to Belgium, and contemplating suicide. Referring to himself in the third person, he says that "the experience still haunts him, but the depression has now faded to embarrassment and the anger to forgiveness."
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by Simon Gray
Simon Gray
Simon James Holliday Gray, CBE , was an English playwright and memoirist who also had a career as a university lecturer in English literature at Queen Mary, University of London, for 20 years...
. It opened at the Albery Theatre, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 17 February 1995, starring Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
and Rik Mayall
Rik Mayall
Richard Michael "Rik" Mayall is an English comedian, writer, and actor. He is known for his comedy partnership with Ade Edmondson, his over-the-top, energetic portrayal of characters, and as a pioneer of alternative comedy in the early 1980s...
, with Gray himself directing. Despite having performed successfully for several weeks during the pre-London warm up dates in Guildford and Watford, Fry left the London production after three days. His understudy
Understudy
In theater, an understudy is a performer who learns the lines and blocking/choreography of a regular actor or actress in a play. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to appear on stage because of illness or emergencies, the understudy takes over the part...
stepped in, until Fry was replaced by Simon Ward
Simon Ward
Simon Ward is an English stage and film actor.-Early life:Simon Ward was born in Beckenham, Kent, near London, the son of a car dealer. From an early age he wanted to be an actor. He was educated at Alleyn's School, London, the home of the National Youth Theatre, which he joined at age 13 and...
. Nevertheless, the production closed on 25 March 1995.
In 2005, Gray released an autobiographical account of the production, called Fat Chance.
Plot
The play concerns George BlakeGeorge Blake
George Blake is a former British spy known for having been a double agent in the service of the Soviet Union. Discovered in 1961 and sentenced to 42 years in prison, he escaped from Wormwood Scrubs prison in 1966 and fled to the USSR...
, who has been convicted for spying for the Russians and sentenced to forty-two years imprisonment, and a fellow prisoner, Sean Bourke
Sean Bourke
Sean Bourke , from Limerick, helped Michael Randle and Pat Pottle to arrange the 22 October 1966 prison escape of the Soviet spy, George Blake....
. Bourke helped Blake escape to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, after which Blake did not want to let him return to his native Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Controversy
In 1995, Stephen FryStephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
famously walked out of the play near the start of its West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
run, after his performance received a bad review in the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
. It was reported at the time that he suffered an attack of stage fright
Stage fright
Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, whether actually or potentially . In the context of public speaking, this fear is termed glossophobia, one of the most common...
, but he has since disclosed that it was bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
. Fry walked out of the production for good, leaving only an apology, and provoking its early closure.
Fry disappeared from the public eye, travelling to Belgium, and contemplating suicide. Referring to himself in the third person, he says that "the experience still haunts him, but the depression has now faded to embarrassment and the anger to forgiveness."