Trelawny of the 'Wells'
Encyclopedia
Trelawny of the 'Wells' is an 1898 comic play by Arthur Wing Pinero
. It tells the story of a theatre star who attempts to give up the stage for love, but is unable to fit into conventional society.
plays at the Barridge Wells Theatre (a thinly disguised Sadler's Wells Theatre
). Rose gives up the stage when she decides to marry her sweetheart, Arthur Gower, in order to please his conservative family. She finds life with Arthur's grandfather and great-aunt, Sir William and Lady Tralfagar, unbearably dull and they detest her loud and unrestrained personality. Rose runs back to the theatre, abandoning Arthur. But her experience of the 'real world' has killed her talent for melodrama, and she cannot recapture the liveliness that had made her a star. Meanwhile, Arthur has secretly run away to become an actor at the Bristol Old Vic
.
The problem is solved when Rose encounters Sir William again, and she reawakens his memory of admiring the great actor Edmund Kean
as a young man. Sir William offers to help Rose's friend Tom Wrench, an aspiring playwright who dreams of staging plays in a more realist
style than the melodramas that dominate the stage. Tom stages the play with Rose as the star, and her newfound seriousness fits his style perfectly. Tom secretly arranges for Arthur to play the leading male role, and the lovers are reunited on stage.
in London on 20 January 1898. It received lukewarm reviews.
Trelawny opened in New York on 22 November 1898, at producer Daniel Frohman
's old Lyceum Theatre
. It ran for 131 performances and starred Mary Mannering
in the title role of Rose Trelawny, Hilda Spong
, Mrs. Thomas W. Whiffen
(whose husband also appeared in the cast), and Elizabeth Tyree
. Fred Williams directed, E.G. Unitt designed the sets, Percy Anderson
designed the costumes, and Frank Howson composed the incidental music..
Pinero revised Trelawny heavily for performance at the Old Vic
in 1925 . It was revived in New York that year, as well as in 1911, 1927, and 1975.
directed by Cecil Hepworth
and starring Alma Taylor
, Stewart Rome
and Violet Hopson
. The play was adapted a second time in 1928 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
as The Actress
, directed by Sidney Franklin
and starring Norma Shearer
.
Arthur Wing Pinero
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero was an English actor and later an important dramatist and stage director.-Biography:...
. It tells the story of a theatre star who attempts to give up the stage for love, but is unable to fit into conventional society.
Synopsis
Trelawny of the 'Wells tells the story of Rose Trelawny, a popular star of melodramaMelodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
plays at the Barridge Wells Theatre (a thinly disguised Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
). Rose gives up the stage when she decides to marry her sweetheart, Arthur Gower, in order to please his conservative family. She finds life with Arthur's grandfather and great-aunt, Sir William and Lady Tralfagar, unbearably dull and they detest her loud and unrestrained personality. Rose runs back to the theatre, abandoning Arthur. But her experience of the 'real world' has killed her talent for melodrama, and she cannot recapture the liveliness that had made her a star. Meanwhile, Arthur has secretly run away to become an actor at the Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
.
The problem is solved when Rose encounters Sir William again, and she reawakens his memory of admiring the great actor Edmund Kean
Edmund Kean
Edmund Kean was an English actor, regarded in his time as the greatest ever.-Early life:Kean was born in London. His father was probably Edmund Kean, an architect’s clerk, and his mother was an actress, Anne Carey, daughter of the 18th century composer and playwright Henry Carey...
as a young man. Sir William offers to help Rose's friend Tom Wrench, an aspiring playwright who dreams of staging plays in a more realist
Realism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
style than the melodramas that dominate the stage. Tom stages the play with Rose as the star, and her newfound seriousness fits his style perfectly. Tom secretly arranges for Arthur to play the leading male role, and the lovers are reunited on stage.
Subject matter
The play is about the theatre of the 1860s and Pinero insisted that the costume and production design perfectly recapture the fashions of the period. It depicts the melodrama that was popular at the time, but Tom Wrench's play is a reference to the new, more realistic drawing-room comedies that were beginning to be staged at the Prince of Wales's Theatre .Performances
The play was first staged at the Royal Court TheatreRoyal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
in London on 20 January 1898. It received lukewarm reviews.
Trelawny opened in New York on 22 November 1898, at producer Daniel Frohman
Daniel Frohman
Daniel Frohman was a Jewish American theatrical producer and manager, and an early film producer.Frohman was born in Sandusky, Ohio...
's old Lyceum Theatre
Lyceum Theatre (New York, 1885-1902)
The Lyceum Theatre operated on Manhattan’s Fourth Avenue between 23rd and 24th Streets, from 1885 to 1902, when it was torn down to make way for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower and replaced by the Lyceum Theatre on 45th Street...
. It ran for 131 performances and starred Mary Mannering
Mary Mannering
Mary Mannering was an Anglo-American actress, born in London. She studied for the stage under Hermann Vezin. She made her debut at Manchester in 1892 under her own name of Florence Friend....
in the title role of Rose Trelawny, Hilda Spong
Hilda Spong
Hilda Spong , was an acclaimed English actress of stage and screen, appearing in Australia, Europe, and America.Hilda was the daughter of Walter Brookes Spong and Elizabeth Twedle....
, Mrs. Thomas W. Whiffen
Blanche Whiffen
Blanche Whiffen, better known as Mrs. Thomas Whiffen, was an American actress born in London. Her maiden name was Galton. She was educated in France; made her stage début at the Royalty Theatre, London, in 1865; came to America in 1868; and toured the United States under John Templeton's management...
(whose husband also appeared in the cast), and Elizabeth Tyree
Elizabeth Tyree
Elizabeth Tyree was an actress in Broadway theatrical productions beginning in the mid 1890s. Her married name wasElizabeth Tyree Metcalfe.-Stage actress:...
. Fred Williams directed, E.G. Unitt designed the sets, Percy Anderson
Percy Anderson
Percy Anderson was an English stage designer and painter, best known for his work for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree's company at His Majesty’s Theatre and Edwardian musical comedies.-Life and career:...
designed the costumes, and Frank Howson composed the incidental music..
Pinero revised Trelawny heavily for performance at the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
in 1925 . It was revived in New York that year, as well as in 1911, 1927, and 1975.
Film adaptation
In 1916 the play was adapted into a silent film Trelawny of the WellsTrelawny of the Wells (film)
Trelawny of the Wells is a 1916 British silent romance film directed by Cecil Hepworth and starring Alma Taylor, Stewart Rome and Violet Hopson. It is an adaptation of the 1898 play Trelawny of the Wells by Arthur Wing Pinero...
directed by Cecil Hepworth
Cecil Hepworth
Cecil Milton Hepworth was an English film director, producer and screenwriter. He was among the founders of the British film industry and continued making films into the 1920s....
and starring Alma Taylor
Alma Taylor
- Life :Taylor was born in London. She made her first screen appearance as a child actor in the 1907 film His Daughter's Voice. She went on to appear in more than 150 film roles, appearing in a number of larger-budget films such as Shadow of Egypt which was shot on location in Egypt in 1924. Taylor...
, Stewart Rome
Stewart Rome
Stewart Rome was a British actor who appeared in more than 150 films between 1913 and 1950. He was born in Newbury, Berkshire in 1886 as Wernham Ryott Gifford but took the stage name of Stewart Rome which was later unsuccessfully contested by Cecil Hepworth who also used the name...
and Violet Hopson
Violet Hopson
Violet Hopson was an American-born British actress. She was a major star of the silent era. She was popually known by audiences as the "Dear Delightful Villianess"...
. The play was adapted a second time in 1928 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
as The Actress
The Actress (1928 film)
The Actress is a 1928 silent drama film produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film was directed by Sidney Franklin and starred Norma Shearer....
, directed by Sidney Franklin
Sidney Franklin (director)
Sidney Franklin was an American film director and producer. His brother Chester Franklin also became a director during the silent film era best known for helming the early Technicolor film Toll of the Sea....
and starring Norma Shearer
Norma Shearer
Edith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
.