The Philanthropist (play)
Encyclopedia
The Philanthropist is a play by Christopher Hampton
, written as a response to Molière
's The Misanthrope
. After a tryout at the Royal Court Theatre
, London
, the piece premiered on Broadway
under the direction of Robert Kidd
. Kidd had collaborated with Hampton on When Did You Last See Your Mother (1964), which had also been staged at the Royal Court Theatre.
Described by Hampton as a "bourgeois comedy", the piece is set in an "English University Town". The Philanthropist demonstrated Hampton's ability "to write witty, subtle and revealing dialogue."
at the Royal Court Theatre
in 1970. A further revised production played in 1970 at the Mayfair Theatre
in England
. The Philanthropist then premiered on Broadway
at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre
on March 15, 1971, following previews from March 11. The cast featured Alec McCowen
in the lead role; David Merrick
and Michael Codron
produced.
The Broadway production ran for 64 performances, closing on May 15, 1971. The New York Times
described it as "a good evening of high-class theatrical highjinks that says more than might be seen on the surface." The show was nominated for three Tony Awards, including the 1971 Tony Award for Best Play
, and McOwen won a Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Performance. Robert Kidd
directed the production, which featured set design by John Gunter, costumes by Sara Brook, and lighting by Lloyd Burlingame.
The first revival production opened at the Manhattan Theatre Club
on September 27, 1983, playing a limited engagement run until November 20, 1983. The piece has been produced regionally many times, including the Bench Theatre Group's 1978 England
production at the Havant Arts Centre
in Havant
, Hampshire
, and in Duluth, Minnesota
in March 2003. A London
revival was staged by David Grindley at the Donmar Warehouse
, running from September to October 15, 2005, and starring Simon Russell Beale
as Philip with Anna Madeley
as Celia.
In 2009, the Roundabout Theatre Company
produced a revival starring Matthew Broderick
, which opened on April 26 at the American Airlines Theatre
in New York City
. The revival, met with mixed reviews, closed on June 28, 2009, after 73 performances. This production was directed by David Grindley; sets were by Tim Shortall, lighting was by Rick Fisher
, and costumes were by Tobin Ost, with sound design by Gregory Clarke.
Note: In later versions of the piece, "Elizabeth" replaced the character "Liz".
1971 Tony Award
s
1971 Drama Desk Award
s
2005 Evening Standard Awards
2006 Critics' Circle Awards
Christopher Hampton
Christopher James Hampton CBE, FRSL is a British playwright, screen writer and film director. He is best known for his play based on the novel Les Liaisons dangereuses and the film version Dangerous Liaisons and also more recently for writing the nominated screenplay for the film adaptation of...
, written as a response to Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's The Misanthrope
The Misanthrope
The Misanthrope is the first EP from metal band Darkest Hour. It was released in 1996 on the defunct label Death Truck Records. It is much more hardcore orientated metalcore unlike their later releases.- Track listing :# "Vise" - 5:30...
. After a tryout at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
, 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...
, the piece premiered 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...
under the direction of Robert Kidd
Robert Kidd
Robert Kidd was a Scottish theatre director. Kidd was married to Jenny Sieff.-Biography:Kidd collaborated several times with Christopher Hampton. In 1964 Kidd and Hampton began together at the Royal Court Theatre with When Did You Last See Your Mother, which transferred to the Comedy Theatre...
. Kidd had collaborated with Hampton on When Did You Last See Your Mother (1964), which had also been staged at the Royal Court Theatre.
Described by Hampton as a "bourgeois comedy", the piece is set in an "English University Town". The Philanthropist demonstrated Hampton's ability "to write witty, subtle and revealing dialogue."
Plot
A CurtainUp! review gave the following summary:- "The prelude to the play is so very clever and it must have marked out the young Christopher Hampton for notice. It reminded me of [Tom] StoppardTom StoppardSir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE, FRSL is a British playwright, knighted in 1997. He has written prolifically for TV, radio, film and stage, finding prominence with plays such as Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul, The Real Thing, and Rosencrantz and...
's The Real ThingThe Real Thing (play)The Real Thing is a play by Tom Stoppard, first performed in 1982. It examines the nature of honesty, and its use of a play within a play is one of many levels on which the author teases the audience with the difference between semblance and reality....
when everything isn't as it seems and the audience are strung along. Philip and Donald are in a tutorial with a student, John, discussing John's play which has a dramatic but unbelievable ending. The first act continues in Philip's rooms in college where his fiancée Celia is cooking dinner for six. First on the guest list is fellow don, and English lecturer, Donald, colleague and confidant of Philip. They are to be joined by a writer, Braham, Araminta and Liz. After a pairing off with lifts offered home, the six mix and meld. The next morning they reap the aftermath of the previous night's sexual activity or even inactivity. "
Productions
A small tryout production was staged in LondonLondon
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...
at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
in 1970. A further revised production played in 1970 at the Mayfair Theatre
Mayfair Theatre
The Mayfair Theatre is Ottawa's oldest active movie theatre, operating since 1932. It operates as an independent repertory cinema. The theatre's programming includes independent, second-run and classic films....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Philanthropist then premiered 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 Ethel Barrymore Theatre
Ethel Barrymore Theatre
The Ethel Barrymore Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 243 West 47th Street in midtown-Manhattan, named for actress Ethel Barrymore....
on March 15, 1971, following previews from March 11. The cast featured Alec McCowen
Alec McCowen
Alexander Duncan "Alec" McCowen CBE is an English actor. He is known for his work in numerous film and stage productions. He was awarded the CBE in the 1985 New Year's Honours List.-Personal:...
in the lead role; David Merrick
David Merrick
David Merrick was a prolific Tony Award-winning American theatrical producer.-Life and career:Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick graduated from Washington University, then studied law at the Jesuit-run Saint Louis University School of Law...
and Michael Codron
Michael Codron
Michael Victor Codron is a British film and theatre producer, known for his productions of the early work of Harold Pinter, Christopher Hampton, David Hare, Simon Gray and Tom Stoppard...
produced.
The Broadway production ran for 64 performances, closing on May 15, 1971. 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...
described it as "a good evening of high-class theatrical highjinks that says more than might be seen on the surface." The show was nominated for three Tony Awards, including the 1971 Tony Award for Best Play
Tony Award for Best Play
The Tony Award for Best Play is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theatre, including musical theatre, honoring productions on Broadway in New York. It currently takes place in mid-June each year.There was no award in the Tony's first year...
, and McOwen won a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Performance. Robert Kidd
Robert Kidd
Robert Kidd was a Scottish theatre director. Kidd was married to Jenny Sieff.-Biography:Kidd collaborated several times with Christopher Hampton. In 1964 Kidd and Hampton began together at the Royal Court Theatre with When Did You Last See Your Mother, which transferred to the Comedy Theatre...
directed the production, which featured set design by John Gunter, costumes by Sara Brook, and lighting by Lloyd Burlingame.
The first revival production opened at the Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club is a theater company located in New York City. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has grown since its founding in 1970 from an Off-Off Broadway showcase into one of the country’s most acclaimed...
on September 27, 1983, playing a limited engagement run until November 20, 1983. The piece has been produced regionally many times, including the Bench Theatre Group's 1978 England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
production at the Havant Arts Centre
Havant Arts Centre
Havant Arts Centre is an arts centre in Havant, Hampshire, England.Containing a small theatre , the arts centre is used for professional and amateur theatre, music of all kinds, dance, to show films and for community groups to meet...
in Havant
Havant
Havant is a town in south east Hampshire on the South coast of England, between Portsmouth and Chichester. It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area. The town has rapidly grown since the end of the Second World War.It has good railway connections to London,...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, and in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
in March 2003. A 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...
revival was staged by David Grindley at the Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse is a small not-for-profit theatre in the Covent Garden area of London, with a capacity of 251.-About:Under the artistic leadership of Michael Grandage, the theatre has presented some of London’s most memorable award-winning theatrical experiences, as well as garnered critical...
, running from September to October 15, 2005, and starring Simon Russell Beale
Simon Russell Beale
Simon Russell Beale, CBE is an English actor. He has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation."-Early years:...
as Philip with Anna Madeley
Anna Madeley
Anna Madeley is a British actress. She has been described by the British Theatre Guide's Philip Fisher as one of the United Kingdom's "brightest and most versatile young actresses".-Biography:...
as Celia.
In 2009, the Roundabout Theatre Company
Roundabout Theatre Company
The Roundabout Theatre Company is a leading non-profit theatre company based in New York City.-History:The company was founded in 1965 by Gene Feist and Elizabeth Owens and now operates five theatres, all in Manhattan: the American Airlines Theatre ; Studio 54 ; the Stephen Sondheim Theatre The...
produced a revival starring Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
, which opened on April 26 at the American Airlines Theatre
American Airlines Theatre
The American Airlines Theatre is a Broadway theatre, located at 227 West 42nd Street, New York City.-Design:Originally named the Selwyn Theatre, it was constructed by the Selwyn brothers, Edgar and Archie, in 1918. It was one of three theatres they built and controlled on 42nd Street, along with...
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...
. The revival, met with mixed reviews, closed on June 28, 2009, after 73 performances. This production was directed by David Grindley; sets were by Tim Shortall, lighting was by Rick Fisher
Rick Fisher
Rick Fisher is a lighting designer, known for his work with Stephen Daldry on Billy Elliot the Musical and An Inspector Calls. He is from Philadelphia and attended Dickinson College, but has been based in the UK for the last 30 years....
, and costumes were by Tobin Ost, with sound design by Gregory Clarke.
Characters and casts
Casts of major productions| Character | 1971 original Broadway | 2005 London revival | 2009 Roundabout revival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philip | Alec McCowen Alec McCowen Alexander Duncan "Alec" McCowen CBE is an English actor. He is known for his work in numerous film and stage productions. He was awarded the CBE in the 1985 New Year's Honours List.-Personal:... |
Simon Russell Beale Simon Russell Beale Simon Russell Beale, CBE is an English actor. He has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation."-Early years:... |
Matthew Broderick Matthew Broderick Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his... |
| Braham | Victor Spinetti Victor Spinetti Victor Spinetti is a Welsh comic actor.-Early life:Spinetti was born in Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Wales of Welsh and Italian heritage from a grandfather who was said to have walked from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner... |
Simon Day Simon Day Simon Day is a British comedian most famous for his roles in the sketch show The Fast Show, sitcom Grass and a series of comedic adverts for Powergen.-Life and career:... |
Jonathan Cake |
| Liz | Carolyn Lagerfelt | Bernadette Russell | |
| Elizabeth | Samantha Soule | ||
| John | Paul Corum | Simon Bubb | Tate Ellington Tate Ellington Tate Ellington is an American actor from Mississippi. He is best known for playing the role of Aidan Hall, best friend of Tyler Hawkins in the 2010 film Remember Me. Ellington also had a starring role as Oliver Hunt in The Elephant King movie... |
| Celia | Jane Asher Jane Asher Jane Asher is an English actress. She has also developed a second career as a cake decorator and cake shop proprietor.-Early life:... |
Anna Madeley Anna Madeley Anna Madeley is a British actress. She has been described by the British Theatre Guide's Philip Fisher as one of the United Kingdom's "brightest and most versatile young actresses".-Biography:... |
|
| Armanita | Penelope Wilton Penelope Wilton Penelope Alice Wilton, OBE is an English actress.-Life and career:Penelope Alice Wilton was born in Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire, to a former actress mother and a businessman father. She is a niece of actors Bill Travers and Linden Travers and a cousin of the actor Richard Morant... |
Siobhan Hewlett Siobhan Hewlett Siobhan Hewlett is an English actress.Siobhan Hewlett was born in London. Her father was the actor Donald Hewlett. She trained in acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London... |
Jennifer Mudge |
| Donald | Ed Zimmermann | Danny Webb Danny Webb (actor) Danny Webb is a British television and film actor. He may be best known for his role as the prisoner Morse in Alien 3. He has appeared in many famous British television programmes including The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Emmerdale Farm, Our Friends in the North, A Touch of Frost, Agatha... |
Steven Weber Steven Weber (actor) Steven Robert Weber is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the television show Wings which aired throughout the 1990s on NBC.-Early life:... |
Note: In later versions of the piece, "Elizabeth" replaced the character "Liz".
Awards and nominations
1970 Theatre Critics Awards- Best New Play (winner)
1971 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...
s
- Best Play (nominee)
- Best Actor in Play (McCowen, nominee)
- Best Featured Actor in a Play (Zimmermann, nominee)
1971 Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
s
- Outstanding Performance (McCowen, winner)
2005 Evening Standard Awards
- Best Actor (Beale, winner)
2006 Critics' Circle Awards
- Best Actor (Beale, winner)
External links
- The Philanthropist at the Internet Broadway DatabaseInternet Broadway DatabaseThe Internet Broadway Database is an online database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel. It is operated by the Research Department of The Broadway League, a trade association for the North American commercial theatre community....