The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganzais a 1928 play byGeorge Bernard Shaw.It is asatiricalcomedyabout severalpolitical philosophieswhich are expounded by the characters, often in lengthymonologues.The plot follows the fictionalEnglish KingMagnus as he spars with, and ultimately outwits,Prime MinisterProteus and hiscabinet,who seek to strip the monarchy of its remaining political influence. Magnus opposes the corporation "Breakages, Limited",which controls politicians and impedes technical progress.
| The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | George Bernard Shaw |
| Date premiered | 14 June 1929, February 1928 |
| Place premiered | Polsky Teatr,Warsaw |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | A British king defends his role in government |
| Genre | Satire |
Shaw'sprefacedescribes the play as:
...a comedy in which a King defeats an attempt by his popularly elected Prime Minister to deprive him of the right to influence public opinion through the press and the platform: in short, to reduce him to a cipher. The King's reply is that rather than be a cipher he will abandon his throne and take his obviously very rosy chance of becoming a popularly elected Prime Minister himself.[1]
The play was completed in December 1928 and first performed inWarsaw(inPolish) the following June. Its English première was at the firstMalvern Drama Festivalin August 1929.[2]
Shaw based King Magnus largely on himself. He modelled the enigmatic and pivotal character Orinthia, the King'smistress,onMrs. Patrick Campbell,the actress who had created the role of Eliza Doolittle in Shaw'sPygmalion.[3]The "Powermistress-General" is said by the biographers ofBeatrice Webbto be modelled onSusan Lawrence,an old colleague of Shaw from theFabian Society.
Characters
edit- SemproniusThe King's Private Secretary
- PamphiliusThe King's Private Secretary
- Billy BoanergesPresident of the Board of Trade
- King Magnus
- OrinthiaKing's Mistress
- AlicePrincess Royal
- Joe ProteusPrime Minister
- PlinyChancellor of the Exchequer
- NicobarForeign Secretary
- CrassusColonial Secretary
- BalbusHome Secretary
- Amanda PostelthwaitePostmistress General
- LysistrataPowermistress General
- VanhattanAmerican Ambassador
- Queen Jemima
Productions
edit- There was a Coronation Year Production in 1953. It went on tour and starred Noël Coward as Magnus and Margaret Leighton as Orinthia. It was particularly memorable for Coward's performance. He could stand absolutely still and absolutely silent and still keep every eye in the audience on him.
- 1965 production directed byPeter DewsstarringMarius Goringas King Magnus andBarbara Murrayas Orinthia staged at theCambridge Arts Theatre,theOpera House, Manchester,theNew Wimbledon Theatre,Theatre Royal, Brightonand theGolders Green Hippodrome.
- 1985-1986 production directed byVal MaystarringPeter O'Tooleas King Magnus,Susannah Yorkas Orinthia andMarius Goringas Nicobar at theTheatre Royal, Bathand theTheatre Royal Haymarket.
- 2012 production in Slezské divadlo,Opava,theCzech Republic.Translated by Alžběta Matoušková. Directed by Roman Groszman. The play premiered on 11 November 2012 with Michal Stalmach (King Magnus), Drahomír Ožana (Joe Proteus), Pavel Rohan (Billy Boanerges), Kostas Zerdaloglu (Balbus), Martin Táborský (Plinius), Emanuel Křenek (Nicobar), Ivana Lebedová (Lysistrata), Hana Vaňková (Amanda Postelthwaite), Sabina Muchová (Queen Jemima), Šárka Vykydalová or Tereza Starostková (Orinthia), Jakub Stránský (Pamphilius), Daniel Volný (Sempronius), Ludmila Štědrá (Vanhattan), Tereza Diatilová or Anežka Bindrová (Alice).
Adaptations
editThe Apple Cartwas presented as part of theBBCTelevision'sPlay of the Monthseries in 1975.Nigel Davenportstarred as King Magnus andHelen Mirrenas Orinthia. It is included in theHelen Mirren at the BBCDVD box set.
A BBC Radio production ofThe Apple Cartwas adapted for radio and directed by Ian Cotteril and starredPeter Barkworthas King Magnus,Prunella Scalesas Orinthia,Nigel Stockas Proteus,Sonia Fraseras Queen Jemima andElizabeth Spriggsas Lysistrata and subsequently rebroadcast onBBC Radio 4 Extra.[4]
Notes and references
edit- ^Shaw, George Bernard.The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza.
- ^Garrard, Rose (2010).A Malvern Treasury.Garrard Art Publications. p. 147.ISBN978-1-905795-56-7.
- ^Peter Hall Company 2009 Programme - Shaw'sThe Apple Cartby Robert Warren.
- ^George Bernard Shaw,Bernard Shaw's THE APPLE CART: A Political Extravaganza,retrieved21 July2021
External links
edit- The Apple Cartat theInternet Broadway Database
- gutenberg.net.auFull text of the play, including a preface and articles relating to the play.
- The Apple Carton Archive.org