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Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Sept 30, 2021 20:44:45 GMT
In sixth grade I wrote and starred in The Mystery of Brentwood, which was a Dark Shadows pastiche (the year was 1970) involving a mansion haunted by a very malevolent ghost. There was a seance, an exorcism, and generally lurid goings-on. I guess I'm glad I don't remember more about it. H. Please provide the script of this and also video footage. Thank you
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Post by samdawson on Sept 30, 2021 22:45:27 GMT
I also saw a musical titled Shockheaded Peter, based on German children's book Struwwelpeter, that was surprisingly grisly. Was that the one by The Tiger Lillies, around 2000? Dark, violent, bizzarre and genuinely hilarious? I wish they'd revive it; they've not managed to do anything so extraordinary since then. When we saw it it was one of the most joyous and hilarious* plays I've ever seen, surpassed for laughs only by Thunderbirds FAB at the Playhouse a fortnight later. *Mind you , my partner was pregnant with our first child and thought she was going to miscarry when they let off a cannon or maroon without the usual theatrical advance warning. Despite her fears that the baby would be traumatised for life, both our children have subsequently grown up with their own copies of Struwwelpeter
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Oct 1, 2021 0:15:17 GMT
I also saw a musical titled Shockheaded Peter, based on German children's book Struwwelpeter, that was surprisingly grisly. Was that the one by The Tiger Lillies, around 2000? Dark, violent, bizzarre and genuinely hilarious? That's the one. I saw it in 1999, I think. I went into the performance with little idea of what to expect--I only saw it because one of my friends volunteered at the theater and had two free tickets. I was very impressed. I'd never heard or seen anything like it, and I haven't since, either. Terrific, if utterly strange, music; vivid and ghastly stagecraft; dark, weird humor. It's probably the most avant-garde thing I've experienced in my life.
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Post by samdawson on Oct 1, 2021 10:34:29 GMT
Was that the one by The Tiger Lillies, around 2000? Dark, violent, bizzarre and genuinely hilarious? That's the one. I saw it in 1999, I think. I went into the performance with little idea of what to expect--I only saw it because one of my friends volunteered at the theater and had two free tickets. I was very impressed. I'd never heard or seen anything like it, and I haven't since, either. Terrific, if utterly strange, music; vivid and ghastly stagecraft; dark, weird humor. It's probably the most avant-garde thing I've experienced in my life. Yes! Well put, I completely agree
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Post by dem bones on Oct 7, 2021 15:12:09 GMT
Thanks Princess, this looks excellent. Wasn't aware that London even had a Grand Guignol tradition. āWhen JosĆ© Levy staged the world premiĆØre of The Old Women by the āPrince of Terrorā AndrĆ© de Lorde in 1921 as part of the fourth series of Grand Guignol at the Little Theatre, he commissioned Aubrey Hammond to create a publicity poster in a Beardsley style. So harrowing was Hammondās poster that it was banned by Lon- don Underground. Hammond also produced a publicity postcard for the theatre, a cartoon drawing of a horrified audience, literally running screaming from the audi- torium. As with the original ThĆ©Ć¢tre du Grand-Guignol in Paris, stories circulated of audience members fainting or being physically sick before the on-stage horrors they witnessed. Londonās Grand Guignol was a sensation and audiences ventured there at their own risk to share in the thrills and chills on offer.ā from the first chapter of Londonās Grand Guignol and the Theatre of Horror Richard J. Hand & Michael Wilson - London's Grand Guignol and the Theatre of Horror (University of Exeter Press, 2007). List of illustrations Acknowledgements
SECTION 1
A History of London's Grand Guignol Issues of Genre and Writing Performers and Performing Censorship and Reception London's Grand Guignol and the Reviewers Aftermath and Legacy
SECTION 2; Ten Plays of London's Grand Guignol
Eight O'Clock, by Reginald Berkeley A Man in Mary's Room, by Gladys Unger Private Room Number Six, by Andre de Lorde & Pierre Chaine The Person Unknown, by H. F. Maltby Latitude 15 South, by Victor MacLure The Old Women, by Christopher Holland The Nutcracker Suite, by Eliot Crawshay-Williams The Sisters' Tragedy, by Richard Hughes The Better Half, by Noƫl Coward I Want to Go Home, by H. F. Maltby
APPENDICES London's Grand Guignol, 1920-22 The Complete Repertoire of London's Grand Guignol, 1920-22 Extract from Oh, Hell!!! A 'Revuette' by Reginald Arkell & Russell Thorndike
Bibliography Index Blurb: London's Grand Guignol ā a macabre theatre of naturalistic horror ā was established in the early 1920s at the Little Theatre in the West End. Eight series of plays were staged; in total forty-three plays were produced and many others written and refused a licence. Taking its cue from Le ThĆ©Ć¢tre du Grand-Guignol in Paris, this high-profile venture enjoyed as much critical controversy as popular success. On its side were some of the finest actors on the English stage, in the shape of Sybil Thorndike and Lewis Casson, and a team of extremely able writers, including the legendary NoĆ«l Coward.
London's Grand Guignol and the Theatre of Horror considers the importance and influence of the English Grand Guignol within its social, cultural and historical contexts. It also presents a selection of ten remarkable English-language Grand Guignol plays, some of which were banned by the Lord Chamberlain, the censor of the day, and have never been published or publicly performed. Among the plays in the book is a previously unpublished work by Noƫl Coward, The Better Half, first performed at the Little Theatre in 1922.Arrived yesterday, current dip in/ dip out read. Very pleased at the inclusion of The Old Woman, which, it transpires is none other than Andre de Lorde & Alfred Binet's censor-bothering A Crime In The Madhouse, retitled in an attempt to smuggle it past the Lord Chamberlain. In 'Christopher Holland's adaptation, Louise, sixteen, is to be released from the St. Leger Asylum, having been pronounced cured of what appear to be panic attacks. The Doctor argues that the girl should be detained a little longer, at least until she has a home and work to go to, although, in truth, his concerns for her are hardly altruistic. Louise is terrified to stay another night for fear of fellow inmates La Borgess, a vicious, one-eyed old maniac, and her cronies, two old biddies with a mutual loathing of pretty girls. To placate Marie, the Doctor instructs a Nun to spend the night with her, but, soon as he's gone, the sister goes AWOL, leaving her charge at the mercy of the bloodthirsty trio. According to Mel Gordon, "De Lorde wanted to write a play so terrifying and unbearable, the entire audience would flee from the theatre." It seems he came very close to achieving his ambition with A Crime In The Madhouse!
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Post by dem bones on Oct 8, 2021 10:06:34 GMT
NoĆ«l Coward's contribution to the London Grand Guignol, the one act play The Better Half, is a sex farce, though, of course, this being a civilised country, there was nothing for the censor to get excited about - the frightfully sordid was the preserve of the French. Alice Ruthven has come to loath husband David; he is entirely too reasonable, too forgiving, always sees the other person's point of view, and everyone thinks he's wonderful. The day's newspapers are full of a high profile divorce. Alice sings the praises of the husband who, on discovering his wife's infidelity, soundly thrashed her. This, Alice insists, proves beyond doubt he loved her, whereas David is not a "real man" and the love of his life is himself. To stir him up, she goads him that her best friend, Marion Hunt, idolises him, and they really would make a perfect couple, so why not separate? When this fails to provoke a reaction, Alice confesses to several non-existent affairs. He forgives her. Furious, Alice takes the only option left open to her. "I am going to find a lover and live in flaming sin ā possibly at Claridges."
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Post by helrunar on Oct 8, 2021 16:40:13 GMT
LOL, Dem! "I am going to find a lover and live in flaming sin ā possibly at Claridges." Surely that is the ne plus ultra, the Ultima Thule of utter shocking degradation.
Coward sometimes seems just a little too smug and knowing for my palate, but there are numerous times when he undoubtedly hit the mark.
H.
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Post by bluetomb on Oct 8, 2021 22:20:20 GMT
Has anyone ever seen a play with horror content? I don't think The Tempest counts. I remember enjoying Conor McPherson's boozy anthology chiller The Weir very much. Good creepiness, good chuckles, much Irishness. One time planned to see his later outing The Seafarer but was prevented by a train cancellation. Also thought highly of the classic Chinese ghost story update Snow in Midsummer, by one Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig. Past injustice, supernatural vengeance including one very cool kill, lots of intrigue and big dramatic climax, along traditional lines but well transposed to a modern setting.. And Martin McDonagh's tar blackly comic child murder/grim fairy tales/dystopian interrogation charmer The Pillow Man is certainly horrible and would rate solidly as far as disturbing few hours of entertainment I've had go. Saw it with a pre fame David Tennant as the lead and Jim Broadbent as one of the main support, I'm not sure how well it all came together but it sure was memorable.
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Post by dem bones on Oct 10, 2021 9:56:53 GMT
Private Room No.Six Andre de Lorde & Pierre Chaine - Private Room Number Six: General Gregorff is a regular visitor to popular Paris night restaurant, The Rat Mort. A violent drunk with an eye - and much else - for the ladies of the night, Gregorff is notorious for his time as Governor of Moscow where, on one occasion, he gave the order for his men to open fire on women and children in the street; on another, he whipped a political prisoner to death with a knout. This night Gregorff is bent on molesting a good time girl who gives her name as Lea, but she takes exception to his brutal advances. The General is furious. "In my own country I have only to express a desire for any lady I might meet, and it is at once satisfied. My slightest wish in that direction becomes an absolute command." A chastened Lea promises to behave, all the while plying him with champagne until he's too drunk to stand. Which is when she breaks the bad news. She is neither who or what she thinks he is. Back home in Russia, she had a brother .... H. F. Maltby - I Want to Go Home: Fearful of losing her husband, who spends every evening at his club, home life with a prudish wife and separate beds holding no appeal for him, Mrs Fanny Field allows the maid to paint her face and dress her in something fetching as might be worn by a chorus girl. The ruse indeed provokes a drunken Reggie's interest. He mistakes Fanny for his fancy bit on the side and heads for the front door as he has to get home to his wife. This play was banned outright by the Lord Chamberlain on grounds of indecency - the English don't do infidelity, and for this Maltby character to suggest as much is a bally outrage!
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Post by andydecker on Oct 10, 2021 12:17:23 GMT
Private Room No.Six H. F. Maltby - I Want to Go Home: Fearful of losing her husband, who spends every evening at his club, home life with a prudish wife and separate beds holding no appeal for him, Mrs Fanny Field allows the maid to paint her face and dress her in something fetching as might be worn by a chorus girl. The ruse indeed provokes a drunken Reggie's interest. He mistakes Fanny for his fancy bit on the side and heads for the front door as he has to get home to his wife. This play was banned outright by the Lord Chamberlain on grounds of indecency - the English don't do infidelity, and for this Maltby character to suggest as much is a bally outrage! Great still-foto. When I read Gordon's Paris book I had a hard time even reading the short synopses of what he called "sex-farces". They are so anchored in their time that they can only be of interested for scholars. This play by Maltby is so dumb - the only interesting allusion is that the unwashed masses in the person of the maid know how to have a good time - that even Benny Hill would have said no.
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Post by dem bones on Oct 11, 2021 8:47:31 GMT
Lewis Casson & Russell Thorndike, Latitude 15Ā° South, 1921. The lady doing the throttling in Private Room Number Six is Sybil Thorndike, considered one of the finest actresses of the day. Her brother Russell, also highly regarded, likewise appeared in several of the Little Theatre productions, including Latitude 15Ā° South (above; he's the guy with the eyeballs). Thorndike authored the popular Doctor Syn of Romney Marsh novels, the first of which had been published in 1915. Victor MacLure - Latitude 15Ā° South: A small steamer adrift on the South Seas, the crew half-crazed by heat and afeared of imminent hurricane. Matters not helped by Sam Farquhar's recent conversion to religious mania of Hellfire and Damnation stripe nor Nobby's conviction that a ghost ship is upon them.
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Post by dem bones on Oct 12, 2021 9:10:41 GMT
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Post by dem bones on Oct 18, 2021 10:15:18 GMT
"We will love you, hug you, kiss you, when you come back home again" A proper pair of wrist-slitters. Sybil Thorndyke is confronted by The Person Unknown, 1921 Grim. Reginald Berkeley - Eight O'Clock: The condemned cell at Aldgate prison, half an hour before Prisoner Rogers, 35, faces his appointment with the hangman. The chaplain's words are wasted on him. Rogers does not trust this compassionate "God" character to care for his wife and four kids should he not be reprieved at the last ā as everyone seems so sure will be the case. Five minutes to go. A letter is handed him by the warden ... Grimmer still. H. F. Maltby -The Person Unknown: in 1915 Daisy Dollard toured the provinces with the jingoistic recruitment song, We Don't Want To Lose You, But we Thing you Ought To Go. At the end of each show, those young men persuaded to enlist would line up backstage to receive a kiss. Tonight Dick Hobbs, a fan of Daisy's who signed up following one of her West Midlands performances, has returned for the welcome he was promised in the last line of the song. A bomb did him damage ā he is not the prettiest sight. Excellent, both.
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Post by dem bones on Sept 19, 2023 19:19:25 GMT
MacMicheal . A rebounding coincidence, as I chanced upon that same shocker - Arnold Golsworthy's A Lapse Into Life - only five days ago. Was aware of neither story nor author before then. More reviews from The Bystander. London's Grand Guignol ( Sept. 29 1920. 'Jingle' spends a night at the Little Theatre to watch the Thorndykes and friends in Pierre Veber's How To Be Happy, Andre 'le Prince de Terreur' de Lorde and Arthur Binet's The Hand of Death, Pierre Rehm's G-H-Q Love and Reginald Arkel and Russell Thorndyke's 'revuette,' Oh, Hell!!!. The Joys of Gory Grand Guignol (August 1932) de Lorde's The Vigil, Pierre Mills & C. de Vyers The Medium and - de Lorde's? - The Seeker of Sensations Mediafire
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