The Shrike (play)
| The Shrike | |
|---|---|
Mary Bell as Nurse Wingate
|
|
| Written by | Joseph Kramm |
| Characters | Ann Downs Jim Downs Dr. Schlesinger Perkins Nurse Wingate Dr. Barrow Grossberg Dr. Bellman Joe Major |
| Date premiered | January 15, 1952 |
| Place premiered | Cort Theater New York City, New York |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | a hospital |
The Shrike is a play written by American dramatist Joseph Kramm. The play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Productions
The Shrike premiered on Broadway at the Cort Theater, on January 15, 1952, and closed on May 31, 1952 after 161 performances. José Ferrer was the producer, director and star (as "Jim Downs"). The cast featured Judith Evelyn ("Ann Downs"), Somer Alberg ("Dr. Schlesinger"), James Hawthorne Bay ("Perkins"), and Mary Bell ("Miss Wingate").[1][2]
Kramm received the 1952 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.[3] Jose Ferrer won the 1952 Tony Award, Actor in a Play and Direction.[1]
The play was revived on Broadway at New York City Center, running from November 25, 1953 to December 6, 1953. Ferrer and Kramm directed and Ferrer and Judith Evelyn starred.[4]
Plot
The play is set in the mental ward of a city hospital, and revolves around a theatrical director named Jim Downs, who has been driven to the verge of insanity and suicide by his estranged wife Ann, who is the "shrike" alluded to in the play's title.
To outsiders, Ann seems to epitomize sweetness, kindness and graciousness. In reality, she is a bitter, manipulative shrew. Like the shrike, a small predatory bird that kills and impales smaller birds, Ann seems harmless but brings death and destruction to everyone she grows close to.
Ann married Jim in hopes that he would eventually gain fame, wealth and stardom, and so his lack of success galls her. Her mockery and nagging led Jim to an unsuccessful suicide attempt, by swallowing a bottle of sleeping pills. This led to his commitment to a mental hospital, where Jim finds that it will not be easy to secure a release. Getting out of the hospital will require the help and cooperation of Ann, who enjoys holding power over her husband.
Ann regularly visits Jim at the hospital, supposedly to provide comfort and love, but really to continue her hectoring and manipulation of him. She is also able to charm the doctors, who usually accede to her wishes and follow her advice as to what is best for Jim.
In order to win his freedom, Jim must give all the "right" answers expected by his doctors, and in doing so, he places himself utterly under Ann's control.
Film adaptation
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The play was adapted for a 1955 film starring Jose Ferrer and June Allyson. [5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "'The Shrike' 1952" playbillvault.com, accessed November 28, 2015
- ↑ Kramm, Joseph. "Introduction", The Shrike, Dramatists Play Service, Inc., 1980, ISBN 0822210266, p. 3
- ↑ Fischer, Heinz-D. "1952 Award", Drama / Comedy Awards 1917-1996. Part 4, Volume 12 of Fischer, Heinz-D. The Pulitzer Prize Arechive, Walter de Gruyter, 1998, ISBN 3110955784, p. 143
- ↑ '"the Shrike' 1953" playbillvault.com, accessed November 28, 2015
- ↑ "'The Shrike' Film Overview" New York Times, accessed November 28, 2015
