The Sacred Flame (play)
Encyclopedia
The Sacred Flame was William Somerset Maugham's 21st play, written at the age of 54. Maugham dedicated the publication to his friend Messmore Kendall.
The play written as three acts, is unique within the total of Maugham's list of 24 plays, as he changed from his previous methodology of using the naturalistic speech pattern he had been so well known for, to experiment with a type of literary dialogue.
The Sacred Flame is the story about the misfortune of Maurice Tabret previously a soldier of World War I
who had returned home unscathed to marry his sweetheart Stella. Unfortunately, after only a year of marriage, Maurice is involved in a vehicle accident and left crippled. The play itself commences some years later in Gatley House near London
, which is the home of Maurice's mother, Mrs. Tabret.
Mrs. Tabret's home has been set up to care for her son and a young Nurse Wayland has been Maurice's constant aid throughout. She is extremely professional and devoted to her job. Maurice's wife Stella lives with them also and remains his cheerful companion and support. Colin Tabret, Maurice's brother has returned from a time in India to spend the previous 11 months before the play's start with his brother and the family. The local practitioner Dr Harvester pops in frequently to check on Maurice's condition and to prescribe appropriate treatments. Mrs. Tabret's own husband has passed on some time ago and whilst she does not have a close relationship with anyone else, her old friend retired Major Liconda visits frequently and the play does reveal a past of some greater care and affection between them.
All is as well as can be expected until Maurice is found dead in his bed one morning. Not altogether unexpected, Dr. Harvester is prepared to write the death certificate but then Nurse Wayland cries foul and indicates that she believes Maurice was murdered. The play then works through a series of Agatha Christie
style whodunnit scenes as the observer (reader) attempts to determine whether or not such a dastardly thing could have befallen the crippled Maurice or whether it is the ravings of his previously professional but now shocked and upset nurse.
The play was first produced in New York
in November 1928 and then in London
in February 1929 where it was quite a success. Gladys Cooper
, Wendy Hiller
and Leo Genn
appeared in the play in London in 1967. Despite the play's success, Maugham did not repeat the experiment of literary dialogue again in any of his future plays.
The play written as three acts, is unique within the total of Maugham's list of 24 plays, as he changed from his previous methodology of using the naturalistic speech pattern he had been so well known for, to experiment with a type of literary dialogue.
The Sacred Flame is the story about the misfortune of Maurice Tabret previously a soldier of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
who had returned home unscathed to marry his sweetheart Stella. Unfortunately, after only a year of marriage, Maurice is involved in a vehicle accident and left crippled. The play itself commences some years later in Gatley House near 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...
, which is the home of Maurice's mother, Mrs. Tabret.
Mrs. Tabret's home has been set up to care for her son and a young Nurse Wayland has been Maurice's constant aid throughout. She is extremely professional and devoted to her job. Maurice's wife Stella lives with them also and remains his cheerful companion and support. Colin Tabret, Maurice's brother has returned from a time in India to spend the previous 11 months before the play's start with his brother and the family. The local practitioner Dr Harvester pops in frequently to check on Maurice's condition and to prescribe appropriate treatments. Mrs. Tabret's own husband has passed on some time ago and whilst she does not have a close relationship with anyone else, her old friend retired Major Liconda visits frequently and the play does reveal a past of some greater care and affection between them.
All is as well as can be expected until Maurice is found dead in his bed one morning. Not altogether unexpected, Dr. Harvester is prepared to write the death certificate but then Nurse Wayland cries foul and indicates that she believes Maurice was murdered. The play then works through a series of Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
style whodunnit scenes as the observer (reader) attempts to determine whether or not such a dastardly thing could have befallen the crippled Maurice or whether it is the ravings of his previously professional but now shocked and upset nurse.
The play was first produced in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in November 1928 and then in 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...
in February 1929 where it was quite a success. Gladys Cooper
Gladys Cooper
Dame Gladys Constance Cooper, DBE was an English actress whose career spanned seven decades on stage, in films and on television....
, Wendy Hiller
Wendy Hiller
Dame Wendy Margaret Hiller DBE was an Academy Award-winning English film and stage actress, who enjoyed a varied acting career that spanned nearly sixty years. The writer Joel Hirschorn, in his 1984 compilation Rating the Movie Stars, described her as "a no-nonsense actress who literally took...
and Leo Genn
Leo Genn
- Early life :He was born at 144 Kyverdale Road, Stamford Hill, Hackney, London, England to a Jewish family. His father, Woolfe Genn, was a jewellery salesman and the maiden name of his mother, Rachel, was Asserson....
appeared in the play in London in 1967. Despite the play's success, Maugham did not repeat the experiment of literary dialogue again in any of his future plays.