Shakespeare For My Father
Encyclopedia
Shakespeare for My Father is a one-woman play written and performed by Lynn Redgrave
. The play concerns Redgrave's relationship with her father, the imposing actor and family patriarch
Sir Michael Redgrave
.
Redgrave was a shy and somewhat sickly child who saw little of her busy father when growing up, and lived very much in a fantasy world of her own making. Her daydreams, because of watching her father perform, consisted largely of Shakespearean
plays and characters. The "memory and message" play gave her an opportunity to slip into many of the characters, following her father's life through to his death from Parkinson's disease
, and her ultimate forgiveness of his failure as a parent.
The play was produced and directed by Redgrave's then husband John Clark with lighting designed by Thomas Skelton
. It was presented for a week at the Lobero Theatre
in Santa Barbara
before touring the United States
for a year in a production sponsored by CAMI
.
The play then opened on Broadway
at the Helen Hayes Theatre
, where it played 274 performances in the 1993/1994 season, a record for a one-person show at the time, earned Redgrave a Best Actress Tony Award
nomination (which she lost to Madeline Kahn
), and went on to play in Canada
, Melbourne
, and at the Haymarket
in London.
Lynn Redgrave
Lynn Rachel Redgrave, OBE was an English actress.A member of the well-known British family of actors, Redgrave trained in London before making her theatrical debut in 1962...
. The play concerns Redgrave's relationship with her father, the imposing actor and family patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
Sir Michael Redgrave
Michael Redgrave
Sir Michael Scudamore Redgrave, CBE was an English stage and film actor, director, manager and author.-Youth and education:...
.
Redgrave was a shy and somewhat sickly child who saw little of her busy father when growing up, and lived very much in a fantasy world of her own making. Her daydreams, because of watching her father perform, consisted largely of Shakespearean
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
plays and characters. The "memory and message" play gave her an opportunity to slip into many of the characters, following her father's life through to his death from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
, and her ultimate forgiveness of his failure as a parent.
The play was produced and directed by Redgrave's then husband John Clark with lighting designed by Thomas Skelton
Thomas R. Skelton
Thomas R. Skelton was a lighting designer. In a career spanning more than four decades, he was best known for his lighting designs for ballet and Broadway theatre productions.-Biography:...
. It was presented for a week at the Lobero Theatre
Lobero Theatre
The Lobero Theatre, founded by José Lobero, is a historic building in Santa Barbara, California. It is at the corner of Anacapa and Canon Perdido Streets, less than a block away from the historic Presidio of Santa Barbara.-History:...
in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
before touring the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for a year in a production sponsored by CAMI
Columbia Artists Management
Columbia Artists Management is an international leader in managing the careers and touring activities of the world's most prominent performing artists and institutions.Led by Chairman and CEO Ronald A...
.
The play then opened on 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...
at the Helen Hayes Theatre
Helen Hayes Theatre
Helen Hayes Theatre with 597 seats is the smallest Broadway theatre and is located at 240 West 44th Street in midtown-Manhattan....
, where it played 274 performances in the 1993/1994 season, a record for a one-person show at the time, earned Redgrave a Best Actress 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 (which she lost to Madeline Kahn
Madeline Kahn
Madeline Kahn was an American actress. Kahn was known primarily for her comedic roles in films such as Paper Moon, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, What's Up, Doc?, and Clue.-Early life:...
), and went on to play in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and at the Haymarket
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
in London.