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Queen Elizabeth Slept Here

Play · 1949

Queen Elizabeth Slept Here is a comedy play by the British writer Talbot Rothwell. It was inspired by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's 1940 Broadway play George Washington Slept Here, with the setting switched to England and many alterations to the plot and characters. The story takes place at an Elizabeth era cottage in Buckinghamshire. A hit, it ran for 349 performances at the Strand Theatre in London's West End between 3 November 1949 and 2 September 1950. The original West End cast starred Dulcie Gray, Michael Denison and also included Kenneth Connor and Julien Mitchell. Later on in the run the lead roles were taken over by Rosalyn Boulter and Jimmy Hanley. Direction was by Richard Bird Rothwell was emerging at the time as a popular writer, and later became known for his scripts for the Carry On film series.

Quid Pro Quo

Play · 1844

Quid Pro Quo is an 1844 comedy play by the British writer Catherine Gore, best known for her novels. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London on 18 June 1844. The original cast included Louisa Cranstoun Nisbett as Lord Bellamont, Robert Strickland as Jeremy Grigson, John Buckstone as Captain Sippet, William Farren as Sir George Mordent, Henry Howe as Rivers, Julia Bennett as Lady Mary Rivers, Julia Glover as Mrs. Grigson, Mrs. Edwin Yarnold as Ellen and Anne Humby as Bridget Prim. The prologue was spoken by Benjamin Webster. The play was selected in a competition by a special committee led by Charles Kemble out of ninety six entries, for which Gore was rewarded with £500.

Quiz

Play · 2017

Quiz is a play written by James Graham. Originally commissioned by theatre producer, William Village, it made its world premiere at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, in November 2017, before transferring to the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End in March 2018. The play centres on the true story of Charles Ingram and the coughing scandal that surrounded his 2001 win of £1,000,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. In 2020, the stage play was adapted for a TV series of the same name.

Rabbit Hole

Play · 2006

Rabbit Hole is a play written by David Lindsay-Abaire. It was the recipient of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play premiered on Broadway in 2006, and it has also been produced by regional theatres in cities such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The play had its Spanish language premiere in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the autumn of 2010. The play deals with how family members survive a major loss and includes comedy as well as tragedy. Cynthia Nixon won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her performance as Becca in the New York production, and the play was nominated for several other Tony awards.

Race

Play · 2009

A racially charged sex crime takes place which leads to charges being made against Charles Strickland, a wealthy resident in his town. He quickly goes to his friend Jack Lawson, a criminal attorney, and retains him to defend his case. Lawson agrees and begins to rely on help from a young black attorney he calls Susan working in his three-lawyer office. As evidence and police reports begin to accumulate for the preparation of the defense of the case, Jack begins to suspect deep flaws in the police investigation of the crime scene. He notes that although the crime reports clearly identify the crime victim as having worn a red sequin dress on the night of the sex crime that something is wrong with the details in the police reports. From his personal experience, he explains to his fellow law office partners (Susan and Brown) how fragile sequin dresses are in general, and how even the slightest incident of jarring or simple out-on-the-town wearing of a sequin dress inevitably leads to sequins popping and falling off almost without any provocation whatsoever. However, the police reports, although otherwise seeming to be thorough, do not mention red sequins being missing or lying around the victim's room in question where an apparent extensive struggle had taken place. The other law partners are impressed by the startling omission, and all three partners come to the conclusion, with increasing and visible confidence before each other, that this omission by the police is very deeply flawed. They are convinced that the credibility of the police reports cannot withstand questioning in the courtroom. All three lawyers feel that their client will be exonerated. The next day, however, news come to the lawyers that a maid in the hotel has "remembered" that she saw sequins under the bed. In the process of further interviews with his client, discussions with his partner, and with Susan, Jack becomes aware of even further complications in the case. The ethnic prejudices of his old friend whom he is defending turn out to be highly suspect and pejorative. More importantly, he begins to suspect that Susan's hand in the activities taking place in the law office after receiving the case may be tainted. Susan turns out to have strong feelings about racially motivated sex crimes and she is far from unbiased in the representation of the case. As Jack continues to quiz her and challenge her on her own beliefs it becomes clear that Susan had come to play a part in the statement of the maid materialising overnight and invalidating the fragile sequin theory the partners were planning to use. It becomes clear by the final curtain that Susan had leaked the information concerning the basis of Jack's planned defense, the fragile sequin theory, to the police and/or DA. It becomes clear that Susan had done this in order to influence the outcome in a matter of justice involving a question of bigotry and of race.

Radio Golf

Play · 2005

Harmond Wilks, an Ivy League-educated man who has inherited a real estate agency from his father, his ambitious wife Mame, and his friend Roosevelt Hicks want to redevelop the Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The project, called the Bedford Hills Redevelopment Project, includes two high-rise apartment buildings and high-end chain stores like Starbucks, Whole Foods, and Barnes & Noble. Harmond is also about to declare his candidacy to be Pittsburgh's first black mayor. Roosevelt has just been named a vice-president of Mellon Bank and has been tapped by a Bernie Smith to help him acquire a local radio station at less than market value, which is possible through a minority tax incentive. A complication arises when Harmond discovers that the house at 1839 Wylie, slated for demolition, was acquired illegally. Harmond offers the owner of the property market value for the house, but the owner refuses to sell. Harmond decides the only way to proceed is to build around the house, which will require minor modifications to the planned development, and calls the demolition company to cancel the demolition. Roosevelt sees no reason to delay since no one but Harmond, Roosevelt, Mame, and the house's owner know the truth, a view Mame supports. When, on the day of the demolition, which Roosevelt has put back into motion, Harmond refuses to be swayed from his stand, Roosevelt announces he will be buying Harmond out and Bernie Smith will be helping him. Harmond accuses Roosevelt of being Smith's "black face" and the two argue over the consequences of Harmond demanding changes in the development plans and if Roosevelt is allowing himself to be used by Bernie Smith. Harmond tells Roosevelt to leave the Bedford Hills Redevelopment office, which is owned by Wilks Realty. The scene ends with Harmond leaving the office to join the group of Hill residents at 1839 Wylie protesting the demolition.

Rafta, Rafta ...

Play · 2007

Rafta, Rafta... is a comedy by British Pakistani playwright Ayub Khan-Din adapted from the 1963 Bill Naughton play, All in Good Time. The play is set in the working class English town of Bolton, and examines a story of marital difficulties within an immigrant Indian family. Ishwar Dutt is a first-generation immigrant and patriarch of the family. He has a troubled relationship with his newlywed son Atul, whose married life with Vina Patel has got off to a rocky start. The play deals with setting out and resolving these various conflicts.

Red

Play · 2009

"There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend... One day the black will swallow the red." Mark Rothko is in his New York studio in 1958/59, having been commissioned to paint a group of murals for the expensive and exclusive Four Seasons restaurant. He gives orders to his assistant, Ken, as Ken mixes the paints, makes the frames, and primes the canvases. Ken, however, eventually brashly questions Rothko's theories of art and his acceding to work on such a commercial project. For his part, Rothko dislikes the rise of pop art. Ultimately, Rothko stops working on the project and decides to return the money. He explains to Ken that the Four Seasons is an inappropriate place for his murals to be seen. He then fires Ken and tells him to go make something of his own in the art world.

Red Harvest

Play · 1937

Red Harvest is a play in three acts by Walter Charles Roberts that uses pages from an American Red Cross nurse's diary detailing her experiences working with the Red Cross in France on the Western Front during World War I as its source material. Set in American Red Cross Hospital 111, a field hospital in Jouy-sur-Morin, the play takes place in 1918 at the time of the Battle of Château-Thierry. Produced by Brock Pemberton and The Theatre Foundation of America, Red Harvest premiered on Broadway on March 30, 1937 at the National Theatre.

Red Light Annie

Play · 1923

Tom and Fanny Campbell move from a small town to New York City, where the only people they know are Fanny's stepsister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Nick Martin. The Martins are criminals who frame Tom for theft. When Tom is sent to prison for three years, Fanny falls prey to cocaine addiction and becomes a prostitute. When Tom is released, Nick attempts to blackmail the Campbells, but Fanny kills him. A sympathetic detective helps her avoid a murder conviction.

Red Light Winter

Play · 2005

In the first act, friends Matt, a writer, and Davis, a book editor, are vacationing in Amsterdam. Matt is lonely and suicidal; he is attempting to hang himself when Davis returns to their shared hotel room with Christina. Christina is a prostitute that Davis has hired as a present for Matt. Christina has sex with Matt, although she is more interested in Davis. In the second act, Matt and Davis have returned home to New York City. Christina goes to New York looking for Davis, but finds Matt, who has been obsessed with her since their earlier encounter.

Red Velvet

Play · 2012

The play begins with Aldrige in later life, nearing the end of a brilliant career. A young Polish journalist, Halina Wozniak, sneaks into his dressing room to interview him about his success, and especially to find out why he has steadfastly refused to play Covent Garden Theatre since playing the lead in a production of Othello decades before. The play revisists crucial moments in Aldridge's past, especially the Othello performance, in which he stepped in for an ailing Kean, hoping to bring some authenticity to the part, but is viciously treated by critics.

Regulus

Play · 1744

Regulus is a 1744 tragedy by the British writer William Havard. It portrays the career of Marcus Atilius Regulus, a Roman Consul at the time of the First Punic War. It ran for seven performances during the season. The original Drury Lane cast included David Garrick as Regulus, Havard himself as Decius, Dennis Delane as Corvus, William Mills as Metullus, Edward Berry as Manlius, James Taswell as Attilus Regulus, Edward Woodburn as Emelius, Howard Usher as Second Ambassador, Anne Budgell as Clelia and Anna Marcella Giffard as Martia.

Reluctant Heroes

Play · 1950

Reluctant Heroes is a comedy play by the British writer Colin Morris. It premiered at the White Rock Theatre in Hastings before transferring to the Whitehall Theatre in London's West End where it ran for 1,610 performances between 12 September 1950 and 24 July 1954. The original West End cast included Brian Rix, Larry Noble, Dermot Walsh, Wally Patch, Bruce Belfrage and Elspet Gray. Other actors who appeared during the run included John Slater, Peter Hammond, Darcy Conyers, Bernard Fox and Gene Anderson. It was the first of the Whitehall farces, and concerns a group of National Service recruits.

Remains to Be Seen

Play · 1951

Remains to Be Seen is a play written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Producer Leland Hayward opened it on Broadway at the Morosco Theatre on October 3, 1951. Bretaigne Windust directed the production, which ran for 199 performances. The play is a comedy about the investigation of the murder of an anti-pornography crusader. Following his death, various characters gather at his Park Avenue apartment, including his niece Jody, his attorney, his butler, the apartment building's young janitor, and a doctor. In the process, the attorney falls in love with Jody, but she chooses to leave with the janitor instead.

Return to Tyassi

Play · 1950

Return to Tyassi is a 1950 play by the British writer Benn Levy. The plot concerns a woman with a shady past who attempts to redeem herself. Levy directed the play, which featured his wife Constance Cummings in the lead role. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Brighton before transferring to the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End where it ran for 29 performances between 29 November and 23 December 1950. The original cast included Constance Cummings, Alexander Knox, Helen Haye and John Justin. Poorly received, it was noted "some critics have knocked this play about severely, and may have done it irreparable damage".

Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.

Play · 2014

Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. presents thirteen stand-alone scenes or vignettes over four acts. The scenes begin with a dialogue between a man and woman discussing sex as she takes control of his education. Then, another couple discuss marriage after a rejected proposal. A woman and her employer discuss work obligations as the woman wishes to take Mondays off. Then a shopper strips naked in a grocery store after a sexual assault. A woman and her non-verbal daughter address the woman's mother's absence from their lives. Following this scene, the play becomes more abstract as scenes blend into each other, including critiques of pornography, a salesperson selling T-shirts with feminist slogans, and a person selling hymens. The final scene discusses the future, overthrowing systems and eradicating all men.

Rhoda in Potatoland

Play · 1975 est

The play consists of a single act. It starts with Rhoda having visions. The visions are sexual and bizarre; they include potatoes, dances and nightmares. Rhoda meets friends, strangers and a lover in these dreams. The play starts as a regular conversation between Rhoda and her friend Sophia, and Max who becomes Rhoda's lover enters sitting on a throne, and that is when Rhoda's dreams begin, going through salons, bathrooms and woods. It all ends with her being punished for dreaming.

Rienzi

Play · 1828

Rienzi is an 1828 historical tragedy by the British writer Mary Russell Mitford. It is based on the fourteenth century Italian political leader Cola di Rienzo. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 9 October 1828. The original cast included Charles Mayne Young as Cola di Rienzi, John Cooper as Angelo Colonna, George Yarnold as Paolo, and Harriet Faucit as Lady Colonna. It was Mitford's most successful play and for 34 nights from October to December 1828, and then appeared frequently in the United States.

Rinaldo and Armida

Play · 1698

Rinaldo and Armida is a 1698 tragedy by the English writer John Dennis. A semi-opera it featured music composed by John Eccles. It is inspired by the 1560 epic poem Jerusalem Delivered by the Italian writer Torquato Tasso, particularly the characters of Rinaldo and Armida. It was performed at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London by Thomas Betterton's company. The original cast included Betterton as Rinaldo, John Thurmond as Ubaldo, Elizabeth Barry as Armida, Elizabeth Bowman as Urania and Elinor Leigh as Phenissa.

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