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.
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:
- 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, the play ran for 132 performances. 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]."
1966 TV adaptation
The play was adapted for British television in 1966.
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
Bibliography
- David Pattie. Modern British Playwriting: The 1950s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. 2013.
