Never So Good (play)
Encyclopedia
Never So Good is a 2008 play
by Howard Brenton
, which portrays the life and career of Harold Macmillan
, a 20th-century Conservative
British politician who served as Prime Minister
(1957–1963). It was first performed in the Lyttelton auditorium of the National Theatre
, London
, on 26 March 2008; previews began on 17 March 2008.
The play is divided into four acts, covering Macmillan's early life and military experience in World War I
; his involvement in British politics during the descent into World War II
; the Suez Crisis
, during which he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer
; and his service as Prime Minister, during which the reputation of his government was severely damaged by the Profumo Affair
. Macmillan's younger self remains with him, providing mocking commentary.
The National Theatre
production was directed by Howard Davies
. The cast included Jeremy Irons
as Harold Macmillan, Anthony Calf
as Anthony Eden
, Pip Carter
as young Harold Macmillan, Anna Carteret
as Nellie Macmillan, Anna Chancellor
as Dorothy Macmillan and Ian McNeice
as Winston Churchill
, whom he would later play in several episodes of Doctor Who
.
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by Howard Brenton
Howard Brenton
-Early years:Brenton was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, son of Methodist minister Donald Henry Brenton and his wife Rose Lilian . He was educated at Chichester High School For Boys and read English Literature at St Catharine's College, Cambridge. In 1964 he was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal...
, which portrays the life and career of Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
, a 20th-century Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
British politician who served as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
(1957–1963). It was first performed in the Lyttelton auditorium of the National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, on 26 March 2008; previews began on 17 March 2008.
The play is divided into four acts, covering Macmillan's early life and military experience in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
; his involvement in British politics during the descent into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
, during which he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
; and his service as Prime Minister, during which the reputation of his government was severely damaged by the Profumo Affair
Profumo Affair
The Profumo Affair was a 1963 British political scandal named after John Profumo, Secretary of State for War. His affair with Christine Keeler, the reputed mistress of an alleged Russian spy, followed by lying in the House of Commons when he was questioned about it, forced the resignation of...
. Macmillan's younger self remains with him, providing mocking commentary.
The National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
production was directed by Howard Davies
Howard Davies (Theatre Director)
Stephen Howard Davies CBE is a British theatre and television director.Davies, the son of a miner, was born in Durham, England and studied at Durham University and Bristol University, where he developed an appreciation for the works of Bertolt Brecht.In the early 1970s, Davies worked extensively...
. The cast included Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
as Harold Macmillan, Anthony Calf
Anthony Calf
Anthony Calf is a British actor, born in Hammersmith, London, England. He studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art . He has recurring roles in the television medical drama Holby City, as Michael Beauchamp, and New Tricks as Strickland...
as Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
, Pip Carter
Pip Carter
-Career:Before starting his professional career, Carter trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he appeared in productions of The Cosmonaut's Last Message..., Platonov, In The Jungle of Cities, The Good Soldier and Assassins....
as young Harold Macmillan, Anna Carteret
Anna Carteret
Anna Carteret is a British stage and screen actress, born in Bangalore, India the daughter of Peter John Wilkinson and his wife Patricia Carteret . She is married to the television and film director Christopher Morahan and has often worked with him...
as Nellie Macmillan, Anna Chancellor
Anna Chancellor
-Family:Chancellor was born in Richmond, London, England, the daughter of the Hon. Mary Alice Jolliffe and John Paget Chancellor. Through her mother's mother, Lady Perdita Rose Mary Asquith, Chancellor is the great-granddaughter of The Hon. Raymond Aquith and the great-great-granddaughter of Prime...
as Dorothy Macmillan and Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice is a prolific English screen, stage, and television character actor.-Early life:McNeice was born in Basingstoke in Hampshire. McNeice's acting training started at the Taunton School in Somerset, followed by two years at the Salisbury Playhouse...
as Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, whom he would later play in several episodes of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
.
External links
- John Thaxter "Never So Good" review in The Stage, 27 March 2008
- Michael Billington "Never So Good" review in The Guardian, 28 March 2008
- Charles Spencer Jeremy Irons shines in Never So Good" review in The Daily Telegraph, 28 March 2008
- Susannah Clapp "Supermac returns" review in The Observer, 30 March 2008