"Crown Matrimonial," written by Royce Ryton, opened on Broadway
October 3, 1973 at the Helen Hayes Theatre. It closed December 8,
1973.
Here are three summaries of the play's plot:
"CROWN MATRIMONIAL
The fascinating story of Edward VIII's abdication. Set in Marlborough
House between 1936 and 1945, this powerful play focuses on the private
family drama of Edward VIII and the Royal Family leading up to the
abdication. An engrossing and moving study of both a major
constitutional crisis and an overwhelming issue of private and public
conflict."
Josef Weinberger Ltd.
http://195.147.150.91/weinberger/plays/play/crown.html
"The abdication of King Edward VIII was such a pivotal event for
Britain and the Monarchy that its ramifications remain fascinating
even now, several decades on... to take another timely look at that
constitutional crisis of long ago.
Ryton's cleverly written work provides a glimpse behind the grand
palace doors, focusing on the kind of discussion the playwright
imagines went on between the royals themselves about the King's
determination to flout both convention and constitution.
As such it is an intriguing dissertation on the crown and duty but
also manages to provide a fascinating look at the human drama played
out among the royals. Much of the action centres on Queen Mary, known
to most of us as the stern dowager from old newsreels. In Ryton's
hands, she becomes a real and rounded character - albeit one with firm
views, as her son repeatedly points out. We are shown her growing
anguish as the crisis deepens, her love for her son vying with her
incredible sense of what is expected of the sovereign."
Woodford Operatic and Dramatic Society
http://www.woads.co.uk/pages/reviews/review-crown.htm
"Crown Matrimonial
by Royce Ryton...
'Crown Matrimonial' shows us the turmoil and tensions within the Royal
Family during King Edward VIII's abdication crisis in 1936. We meet
Queen Mary, the country's revered matriarch and a bulwark of
traditional standards; the troubled King whose emotions blind him to
all other considerations; and Bertie and Elizabeth, Duke and Duchess
of York who became the reluctant George VI and his Queen, the
best-loved royal lady of them all. This fascinating account centres
around the conflicts between duty and desire, between loyalty to the
country and love for a woman - a drama about one of the most momentous
events in 20th Century Britain, and a story as relevant as tomorrow's
newspaper headlines."
Plaza Theatre
http://www.plazatheatre.com/productions.htm
Here you will find full details of the Broadway cast and production team:
Internet Broadway Database
http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=3561
Although it had only a two-month run on Broadway, the play scored one
Tony Award nomination. Finlay James was nominated for Best Costume
Design.
This play was originally produced at the Haymarket Theatre in London
in 1972. That production had historical significance: it was the first
instance in which a living member of the British Royal Family was
portrayed on stage.
"1972: The first performance of Crown Matrimonial at the Haymarket
Theatre, London, with Amanda Reiss portraying the Queen Mother in a
drama about the abdication crisis of 1936. This was the first
portrayal of a living member of the Royal family on the British
stage."
Camelot International
http://www.camelotintl.com/365_days/october.html
Here you can purchase a copy of the play:
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/0856762008/
Google search strategy:
"crown matrimonial"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22crown+matrimonial
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pinkfreud |
