The Dark Is Light Enough

Cover first edition, Oxford University Press, 1954 (illustration: Ronald Searle)

The Dark Is Light Enough is a 1954 verse play by Christopher Fry, which he wrote for Dame Edith Evans and set during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.[1][2] It is formally a comedy, but Fry subtitled the play 'A Winter Comedy' to signal its tragic qualities.

The play, directed by Peter Brook, premiered at the Aldwych Theatre in London, UK, in May 1954.[3]

Original London cast

• Countess Rosmarin Ostenburg – Edith Evans
• Richard Gettner – James Donald
• Gelda (Daughter of the Contess) – Margaret Johnston
• Colonel Janik – John Glen
• Count Peter Zichy – Jack Gwillim
• Stefan (Son of the Contess) – Peter Barkworth
• Kassel (Doctor) – Peter Bull
• Bella – Violet Farebrother

Original Broadway cast

The extended preview season started on Broadway at the ANTA Playhouse on 23 February 1955 and closed on 23 April 1955, after a total of 69 performances. It was directed by Guthrie McClintic.[4]

• Countess Rosmarin Ostenburg – Katharine Cornell
• Richard Gettner – Tyrone Power
• Gelda (Daughter of the Contess) – Marian Winters
• Colonel Janik – Arnold Moss
• Count Peter Zichy – Christopher Plummer
• Stefan (Son of the Contess) – Paul Roebling
• Kassel (Doctor) – William Podmore
• Bella – Eva Condon
• Belmann – John Williams
• Fourth Soldier – Dario Barri
• Third Soldier – Jerome Gardino
• Beppy – Ted Gunther
• Jakob – Donald Harron
• Willi – Charles Macaulay
• Rusti, A Hungarian corporal – Sydney Pollack

Adaptations

A 90-minute BBC TV version was broadcast in January 1958, starring Edith Evans as the Countess and Peter Wyngarde as Richard Gettner. It was directed by Stuart Burge.[5]

References

1. "Christopher Fry". The Independent. 4 July 2005.
2. "The Dark Is Light Enough | Samuel French". www.samuelfrench.co.uk.
3. "Production of The Dark is Light Enough | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
4. "The Dark Is Light Enough – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB".
5. "The Dark is Light Enough · British Universities Film & Video Council". bufvc.ac.uk.

External links

• ​The Dark Is Light Enough​ at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Dark Is Light Enough at IMDb