Orson Welles on Shakespeare: The W.P.A. and Mercury Theatre Playscripts

by Richard France

Overview

Orson Welles's theatrical productions of Shakespearean plays for the W.P.A.'s Federal Theatre Project and Welles's own Mercury Theatre represent a unique blending of high art and the politicized popular culture of the 1930s. This volume is the only publication available of the fully annotated playscripts of these adaptations -- the "Voodoo" Macbeth, the modern-dress Julius Caesar, and Welles's compilation of the history plays, Five Kings. Richard France's general introduction provides invaluable background information that relates the three plays and their productions to the contemporary social, historical, political, and economic climate from which they emerged. Additionally, each script is presented with relevant information on the productions, interview material from those on the scene, and Welles's own directorial marginalia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313273346
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/30/1990
Series:	Contributions in Drama and Theatre Studies , #30
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Richard France is a playwright, teacher, actor, and authority on Orson Welles. He is the author of The Theatre of Orson Welles, which was the recipient of the Choice Outstanding Book Award in 1978. He is also the winner of the 1982 Silver PEN award. Currently, France teaches at the City University of New York.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations     ix
Editor's Note     xi
Acknowledgments     xiii
Introduction     1
Macbeth     29
Preface     29
Production Credits and Cast     37
Act One     39
Act Two     62
Act Three     81
Notes to Macbeth     97
Julius Caesar     103
Preface     103
Production Credits and Cast     108
Playscript     108
Notes to Julius Caesar     165
Five Kings     169
Preface     169
Production Credits and Cast     174
Act One     175
Act Two     231
Act Three     256
Notes to Five Kings     289
Selected Bibliography     295

Editorial Reviews

"Richard France has given us access to genius in making Orson Welles' Shakespeare texts available. Bravo!" — Stuart Vaughan, Former Artistic Director of the New York Shakespeare Festival
"Richard France brilliantly illuminates the work of Orson Welles, providing the reader with a wealth of riches in his inspiring collection. Anyone who loves theatre and film, and who is fascinated by this great American genius, will love this book. France has give un easy access to the Welles' versions of his famous voodoo Macbeth, as well as his fascist Julius Caesar, and finally, of Five Kings, a reworking of Shakespeare's history plays. Wonderfully insightful, presented with eloquence and style, reading this book is like sitting down to a delicious meal. Thank you, Richard France, for this extraordinary piece of theatre history-it is to be cherished." — Stacy Keach
"A singularly important contribution to the growing body of material which holds that we should pay more attention to Shakespeare texts as performed and less to historical issues of textual authenticity. France's own experience as a playwright enables him to treat issues involving Welles and theatre with keener insight than most academic writing on the subject." — Robert L. Carringer, University of Illinois at Urbana
"The reputation of Orson Welles, tarnished by his own excesses, has been glowingly restored by Richard France's brilliant editing of the W.P.A. Mercury Theatre Playscripts. France skillfully reminds us why Welles dominates the history of the 20th Century as one of our greatest stage and film directors." — Gene Feist, Founding Director of the Roundabout Theatre Company
"...a mandatory volume for fans of either Welles or Shakespeare, which should encompass just about every culturally literate person alive." — Scott Eyman, West Palm Beach Post January 20, 2002

From the Publisher