Variation on a Theme (play)
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File:Variations_on_a_Theme_(play).jpg, London, 1958]]
Variation on a Theme is a 1958 play by the British writer Terence Rattigan. It is a reworking of Alexandre Dumas, fils's nineteenth century novel and subsequent play La Dame aux Camélias.Pattie p.232
Original production
Directed by John Gielgud, the play opened (after a pre-London tour), at the Globe Theatre, London, on 8 May 1958, with the following cast:{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/ak3/variation-on-a-theme/production/nqv|title=Production of Variation on a Theme - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}
- Hettie - Jean Anderson
- Rose - Margaret Leighton
- Ron - Jeremy Brett
- Kurt - George Pravda
- Fiona - Felicity Ross
- Adrian - Lawrence Dalzell
- Mona - Mavis Villiers
- Sam - Michael Goodliffe
Reception
While not received well by the critics,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/mar/03/variations-on-a-theme-terence-rattigan-finborough-review|title=Variation on a Theme review – first revival of Rattigan's take on Dumas|first=Michael|last=Billington|date=3 March 2014|publisher=|via=www.theguardian.com}} the play ran for 132 performances.{{cite web|url=http://www.theterencerattigansociety.co.uk/variation-on-a-theme/|title=Variation on a Theme @ The Terence Rattigan Society|website=www.theterencerattigansociety.co.uk}} Kenneth Tynan wrote in The Observer:
"As far as I could see the star of the show was Norman Hartnell, from whose contributions – a white diamanté sack, a shocking-pink cocktail dress in pleated chiffon, a casual ensemble of blouse and pedal-pushing slacks, and a two-tiered ball-gown in navy-blue pebble-crèpe – the lean extremities of Margaret Leighton nervously protuded {{sic}}."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/feb/14/kenneth-tynan-terence-rattigan|title=Kenneth Tynan on Terence Rattigan's Variation on a Theme|first=Kenneth|last=Tynan|date=14 February 2014|publisher=|via=www.theguardian.com}}
1966 TV adaptation
The play was adapted for British television in 1966.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1137618/ Variation on a Theme] at IMDB
=Cast=
- Irene Worth a Rose
- Gary Bond as Ron
- Catherine Lacey as Hettie
- Grant Taylor as Kurt
- John Bailey as Sam
- Helen Horton as Mona
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- David Pattie. Modern British Playwriting: The 1950s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. 2013.
{{Terence Rattigan}}
Category:Plays by Terence Rattigan
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