Plague Over England
{{Short description|2008 play written by Nicholas de Jongh}}
{{Infobox play
| name = Plague Over England
| image = Plagueoverengland.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = West End Premiere Poster
| writer = Nicholas de Jongh
| chorus =
| characters = John Gielgud
Sybil Thorndike
| mute =
| setting = London
| premiere = {{Start date|2008|02}} - World Premiere
{{Start date|2009|02|24}} - West End Premiere
| place =
| orig_lang = English
| series =
| subject =
| genre = Drama
| web =
}}
Plague Over England is a play written by Nicholas de Jongh, based on a real-life incident when actor John Gielgud was arrested for lewd behavior in 1953; it provides an insight into the changes in the lives of gay people over the last fifty years. It received universally positive reviews when it received its world premiere at the Finborough Theatre in 2008, and subsequently transferred to the West End with an updated cast for a limited run.
Plot summary
On 21 October 1953, John Gielgud was arrested in a public lavatory after being entrapped by a "pretty policeman". There followed a high-profile court case, reenacted in Plague Over England.
Productions
The Evening Standard critic Nicholas de Jongh's first play premiered at the Finborough Theatre in February 2008, and transferred to the West End's Duchess Theatre in February 2009, with Michael Feast as Gielgud and Celia Imrie as Sybil Thorndike. The cast included: Michael Brown, David Burt, Simon Dutton, Steven Hansell, Sam Heughan, Hugh Ross and John Warnaby. It was directed by Tamara Harvey.
Reception
The production received largely positive reviews, many particularly praising Imrie and Feast.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/plague-over-england-duchess-theatre-londonbron-the-waterfront-theatre-royal-london-1634552.html |title=Plague Over England, Duchess Theatre, London |first=Claudia |last=Pritchard |date=1 March 2009 |newspaper=The Independent |accessdate=11 June 2017}} However, despite rave reviews, the production closed two weeks early on 2 May 2009.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233643/http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/news/ma09/plagueoverengland333129.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/news/ma09/plagueoverengland333129.htm |title=Plague Over England to close two weeks early on 2 May |date=1 April 2009 |website=London Theatre.co.uk |accessdate=11 June 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.theatretickets.co.uk/theatre-news/85/Plague+Over+England+Comes+To+An+End.html |title=Plague Over England Comes To An End |website=Theatre Tickets.co.uk |date=15 April 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422075251/http://www.theatretickets.co.uk/theatre-news/85/Plague+Over+England+Comes+To+An+End.html |archivedate=22 April 2012 |accessdate=11 June 2017}}
=Critic quotes=
- "...Michael Feast, who knew Gielgud personally, gives a beautifully deft tragi-comic performance as the great actor, at once unworldly, lecherous, self-mocking and full of fear...Celia Imrie offers a delicious double as a touchingly sympathetic Sybil Thorndike... bravo!" Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/charles-spencer/4787007/Plague-over-England-at-Duchess-Theatre-review.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114040904/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/charles-spencer/4787007/Plague-over-England-at-Duchess-Theatre-review.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2015 |title=Plague over England at Duchess Theatre, review |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Charles |last=Spencer |authorlink=Charles Spencer (journalist) |date=23 February 2009|accessdate=11 June 2017}}
- "Lively...arresting." Benedict Nightingale, The Times.{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article5797745.ece |title=Plague over England at the Duchess Theatre |first=Benedict |last=Nightingale |authorlink=Benedict Nightingale |newspaper=The Times |date=25 February 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616195342/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article5797745.ece |archivedate=16 June 2011 |accessdate=11 June 2017}}
- "Compelling...a terrific first play." The Evening Standard.{{cite news |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/show-23592502-details/Plague+Over+England/showReview.do?reviewId=23650958 |title=Gay London emerges in Plague Over England |first=Johann |last=Hari |authorlink=Johann Hari |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=24 February 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428140556/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/show-23592502-details/Plague+Over+England/showReview.do?reviewId=23650958 |archivedate=28 April 2009 |accessdate=11 June 2017}}
- "Bracing, moving and intelligent" Sunday Express.Shenton, Mark, Sunday Express, 1 March 2009
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/archive/2008/plagueoverengland.htm |title=Plague Over England |website=Finborough Theatre archive}}
External links
- {{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/fff711e0-0360-11de-b405-000077b07658.html |title='Plague Over England' Review |newspaper=Financial Times |url-access=subscription }}
- {{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2009/legit/reviews/plague-over-england-1200473475/ |title=Review: 'Plague Over England' |first=Karen |last=Fricker |authorlink=Karen Fricker |magazine=Variety |date=24 February 2009 |accessdate=11 June 2017}}
- {{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2008/mar/01/theatre |title= Plague Over England, Finborough Theatre, London |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Michael |last=Billington |authorlink=Michael Billington (critic) |date=1 March 2008 |accessdate=11 June 2017}}