Richard of Bordeaux (play)
Encyclopedia
Richard of Bordeaux is a play by Gordon Daviot (pseudonym for Elizabeth Macintosh) that depicts the story of Richard II of England
in a romantic fashion, emphasizing the relationship between Richard
and his queen Anne of Bohemia
. Daviot wrote the play after seeing John Gielgud
play Shakespeare's Richard II
at the Old Vic Theatre, and submitted it to him for production. Gielgud
had reservations about the play but agreed to test it out for two matinée performances at the Arts Theatre
.
Gielgud
finally recognized the play's potential and directed it with himself as Richard
at the New Theatre
in February 1932. Prior to that production, Gielgud
was regarded as a highly respected classical actor based on his performances at the Old Vic, but the overwhelming success of Richard of Bordeaux catapulted him into the status of superstar. The play ran for over a year in the West End
(a substantial run for its time).
It went on to play in the British provinces many times, first on the original tour with Gielgud
, then with other actors, on tour and in repertory revivals. Michael Redgrave
played Richard at Liverpool Playhouse, and John Clements
at the Intimate Theatre
in Palmer's Green.
The play crossed the Atlantic
to Broadway in 1934 with Dennis King
as Richard
, but without Gielgud
in the role, the play ran for only 38 performances.
Gielgud
tried to make one of his (then) rare film appearances in the role in the 1930s and teamed with Alexander Korda
to produce it, but the project fell through. He later tried to persuade Dirk Bogarde
to play the part on film in the 1960s, but to no avail. Probably because its brand of 1930s pacifism became discredited as appeasement, the play is rarely revived. However, Laurence Payne
played the King at the old theatre at Guildford after the War, when Kenneth Williams
was John Maudelyn.
The play was performed on television in 1938 with Andrew Osborn as Richard and the original Queen Anne, Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies
. Peter Cushing
starred in 1955 in another BBC television
version, which survives and has been shown at the National Film Theatre.
For BBC radio, Griffith Jones
played the young King in 1946. Gielgud himself reprised his stage role at the microphone in 1941 and 1952. Some of the latter broadcast can be heard on a commercially released recording of Gielgud's audio work. Martin Jarvis was well-received as Richard
in a 1974 radio
production. Gielgud
wrote a letter of congratulation to Jarvis
on his performance.
Nicola Upson's detective novel An Expert In Murder (a quote from the play) was published in 2008, and has been serialised on BBC radio. It weaves a whodunnit plot around the original West End production.
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
in a romantic fashion, emphasizing the relationship between Richard
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
and his queen Anne of Bohemia
Anne of Bohemia
Anne of Bohemia was Queen of England as the first wife of King Richard II. A member of the House of Luxembourg, she was the eldest daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, and Elizabeth of Pomerania....
. Daviot wrote the play after seeing John Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
play Shakespeare's Richard II
Richard II (play)
King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's...
at the Old Vic Theatre, and submitted it to him for production. Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
had reservations about the play but agreed to test it out for two matinée performances at the Arts Theatre
Arts Theatre
The Arts Theatre is a theatre in Great Newport Street, in Westminster, Central London. It now operates as the West End's smallest commercial receiving house.-History:...
.
Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
finally recognized the play's potential and directed it with himself as Richard
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
at the New Theatre
Noël Coward Theatre
The Noël Coward Theatre, formerly known as the Albery Theatre, is a West End theatre on St. Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster. It opened on 12 March 1903 as the New Theatre and was built by Sir Charles Wyndham behind Wyndham's Theatre which was completed in 1899. The building was designed by...
in February 1932. Prior to that production, Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
was regarded as a highly respected classical actor based on his performances at the Old Vic, but the overwhelming success of Richard of Bordeaux catapulted him into the status of superstar. The play ran for over a year in the 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...
(a substantial run for its time).
It went on to play in the British provinces many times, first on the original tour with Gielgud
Gielgud
Giełgud, Gielgud is a Polish surname.People with the surname Gielgud include:* Frank Gielgud ∞ Kate Terry** Lewis Gielgud , English scholar and intelligence officer, brother of John and Val...
, then with other actors, on tour and in repertory revivals. Michael Redgrave
Michael Redgrave
Sir Michael Scudamore Redgrave, CBE was an English stage and film actor, director, manager and author.-Youth and education:...
played Richard at Liverpool Playhouse, and John Clements
John Clements
Sir John Selby Clements, CBE was an English actor and producer who worked in theatre, television and film.Clements attended St Paul's School and St John's College, Cambridge University then worked with Nigel Playfair and afterwards spent a few years in Ben Greet's Shakespearean Company. He made...
at the Intimate Theatre
Intimate Theatre
The Intimate Theatre was a repertory theatre in Palmers Green, London from 1937 to 1987, and is the name commonly used for St. Monica's Church Hall.-History:...
in Palmer's Green.
The play crossed the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to Broadway in 1934 with Dennis King
Dennis King (actor)
Dennis King was an English actor and singer.Born in Coventry as Dennis Pratt, King had a stage career in both drama and musicals. He emigrated to the USA in 1921 and went on to a successful career on the Broadway stage. He appeared in two musical films and played non-singing roles in two other...
as Richard
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
, but without Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
in the role, the play ran for only 38 performances.
Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
tried to make one of his (then) rare film appearances in the role in the 1930s and teamed with Alexander Korda
Alexander Korda
Sir Alexander Korda was a Hungarian-born British producer and film director. He was a leading figure in the British film industry, the founder of London Films and the owner of British Lion Films, a film distributing company.-Life and career:The elder brother of filmmakers Zoltán Korda and Vincent...
to produce it, but the project fell through. He later tried to persuade Dirk Bogarde
Dirk Bogarde
Sir Dirk Bogarde was an English actor and novelist. Initially a matinee idol in such films as Doctor in the House and other Rank Organisation pictures, Bogarde later acted in art-house films such as Death in Venice...
to play the part on film in the 1960s, but to no avail. Probably because its brand of 1930s pacifism became discredited as appeasement, the play is rarely revived. However, Laurence Payne
Laurence Payne
Laurence Payne was an English actor and novelist.-Early life:Laurence Stanley Payne was born in London. His father died when he was three years old, and he and his elder brother and sister were brought up in by their mother, a Wesleyan Methodist in Wood Green, London...
played the King at the old theatre at Guildford after the War, when Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams was an English comic actor and comedian. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the Carry On films, and appeared in numerous British television shows, and radio comedies with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne.-Life and career:Kenneth Charles Williams was born on 22 February...
was John Maudelyn.
The play was performed on television in 1938 with Andrew Osborn as Richard and the original Queen Anne, Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies
Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies
Dame Gwen Lucy Ffrangcon-Davies, DBE was a British actress and centenarian. She was born in London of a Welsh family; the name "Ffrangcon" originates from a valley in Snowdonia...
. Peter Cushing
Peter Cushing
Peter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor, known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the handsome but sinister scientist Baron Frankenstein and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, amongst many other roles, often appearing opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally...
starred in 1955 in another BBC television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
version, which survives and has been shown at the National Film Theatre.
For BBC radio, Griffith Jones
Griffith Jones
Griffith Jones may refer to:*Griffith Jones , Llanddowror, who established circulating schools in Wales*Griffith Jones , appointed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1690, later Mayor of Philadelphia...
played the young King in 1946. Gielgud himself reprised his stage role at the microphone in 1941 and 1952. Some of the latter broadcast can be heard on a commercially released recording of Gielgud's audio work. Martin Jarvis was well-received as Richard
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
in a 1974 radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
production. Gielgud
Gielgud
Giełgud, Gielgud is a Polish surname.People with the surname Gielgud include:* Frank Gielgud ∞ Kate Terry** Lewis Gielgud , English scholar and intelligence officer, brother of John and Val...
wrote a letter of congratulation to Jarvis
Jarvis
Jarvis is a surname and, less frequently, a male given name.* Ann Jarvis , social activist, founder of Mother's day holiday.* Anna Jarvis , daughter of Ann Jarvis.* Jarvis Cocker Jarvis is a surname and, less frequently, a male given name.* Ann Jarvis (1832 - 1905), social activist, founder of...
on his performance.
Nicola Upson's detective novel An Expert In Murder (a quote from the play) was published in 2008, and has been serialised on BBC radio. It weaves a whodunnit plot around the original West End production.