A Matter of Gravity
Encyclopedia
A Matter of Gravity is a play by Enid Bagnold
.
At its center is eccentric dowager Mrs. Basil, who chooses to live in only one room of her Oxford
mansion. Her quiet existence is disrupted by the arrival of her grandson Nicky and four of his friends and new cook-housekeeper Dubois, who startles the mistress of the house by levitating in the air. The miracle
confounds the woman, who begins to question her lifelong belief that God does not exist.
Originally produced as Call Me Jacky at The Oxford Playhouse
in 1967, the play eventually caught the attention of producer Robert Whitehead
, who viewed it as an ideal star vehicle for Katharine Hepburn
. The actress agreed to commit to a pre-Broadway
tryout run of six weeks (which ultimately was expanded to twelve), a twelve-week engagement in New York City
, and a subsequent six-month national tour.
Following performances in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
, New Haven, Boston
, and Toronto
, the Broadway production, directed by Noel Willman
, opened on February 3, 1976 at Broadhurst Theatre
, where it ran for 79 performances. In addition to Hepburn, the cast included Christopher Reeve
as Nicky and Charlotte Jones as Dubois.
While the play itself garnered mediocre reviews, critics - particularly Clive Barnes
of The New York Times
, who wrote a lengthy feature praising the actress for the February 15 Sunday Arts & Leisure section - were charmed by Hepburn's performance. Nine weeks into the run, she asked to be released from her contract in order to film Olly Olly Oxen Free
, and the production shut down. In October she started the national tour in Denver, then proceeded to Vancouver
, San Francisco, and Los Angeles
where, a few days after opening at Ahmanson Theatre
, she fractured her ankle. After missing two performances, she returned to the play in a wheelchair. Soon after she made national headlines when, angered by an audience member who took a flash photograph, she wheeled herself to the edge of the stage and launched into a bombastic tirade, calling the offender a "pig" and accusing her of having "no consideration for actors trying to concentrate during difficult scenes or the people who paid good money to come here." Following LA, the tour continued to San Diego and Phoenix
, where it closed in March 1977.
The play's sole Tony Award
nomination went to Ben Edwards for Best Scenic Design.
Enid Bagnold
Enid Algerine Bagnold, Lady Jones, CBE , known by her maiden name as Enid Bagnold, was a British author and playwright, best known for the 1935 story National Velvet which was filmed in 1944 with Elizabeth Taylor....
.
At its center is eccentric dowager Mrs. Basil, who chooses to live in only one room of her Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
mansion. Her quiet existence is disrupted by the arrival of her grandson Nicky and four of his friends and new cook-housekeeper Dubois, who startles the mistress of the house by levitating in the air. The miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
confounds the woman, who begins to question her lifelong belief that God does not exist.
Originally produced as Call Me Jacky at The Oxford Playhouse
The Oxford Playhouse
The Oxford Playhouse is an independent theatre in Beaumont Street, Oxford, opposite the Ashmolean Museum.- History :...
in 1967, the play eventually caught the attention of producer Robert Whitehead
Robert Whitehead
Robert Whitehead was an English engineer. He developed the first effective self-propelled naval torpedo. His company, located in the Austrian naval centre in Fiume, was the world leader in torpedo development and production up to the First World War.- Early life:He was born the son of a...
, who viewed it as an ideal star vehicle for Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
. The actress agreed to commit to a pre-Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
tryout run of six weeks (which ultimately was expanded to twelve), a twelve-week engagement in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and a subsequent six-month national tour.
Following performances in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, New Haven, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, the Broadway production, directed by Noel Willman
Noel Willman
Noel Willman was a Irish actor and theatre director of English descent..His films included Androcles and the Lion , The Man Who Knew Too Much , Across the Bridge , Carve Her Name with Pride , The Kiss of the Vampire , Doctor Zhivago , The Reptile...
, opened on February 3, 1976 at Broadhurst Theatre
Broadhurst Theatre
The Broadhurst Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 235 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan.It was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, a well-known theatre designer who had been working directly with the Shubert brothers; the Broadhurst opened 27 September 1917...
, where it ran for 79 performances. In addition to Hepburn, the cast included Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
as Nicky and Charlotte Jones as Dubois.
While the play itself garnered mediocre reviews, critics - particularly Clive Barnes
Clive Barnes (critic)
Clive Alexander Barnes, CBE was a British-born American writer and critic. From 1965 to 1977 he was the dance and theater critic for the New York Times, the most powerful position he had held, since its theater critics' reviews historically have had great influence on the success or failure of...
of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, who wrote a lengthy feature praising the actress for the February 15 Sunday Arts & Leisure section - were charmed by Hepburn's performance. Nine weeks into the run, she asked to be released from her contract in order to film Olly Olly Oxen Free
Olly Olly Oxen Free (film)
Olly, Olly, Oxen Free is a 1978 American black comedy film directed by Richard A. Colla and starring Katharine Hepburn. The screenplay by Eugene Poinc is based on a story by Poinc, Colla, and Maria L. de Ossio...
, and the production shut down. In October she started the national tour in Denver, then proceeded to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, San Francisco, and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where, a few days after opening at Ahmanson Theatre
Ahmanson Theatre
The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the four main venues that comprise the Los Angeles Music Center.Through the generosity of philanthropist Robert H. Ahmanson, construction began on March 9, 1962. The theatre opened on April 12, 1967 with a production of More Stately Mansions starring Ingrid Bergman,...
, she fractured her ankle. After missing two performances, she returned to the play in a wheelchair. Soon after she made national headlines when, angered by an audience member who took a flash photograph, she wheeled herself to the edge of the stage and launched into a bombastic tirade, calling the offender a "pig" and accusing her of having "no consideration for actors trying to concentrate during difficult scenes or the people who paid good money to come here." Following LA, the tour continued to San Diego and Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, where it closed in March 1977.
The play's sole Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
nomination went to Ben Edwards for Best Scenic Design.