The Barretts of Wimpole Street

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Event The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Venue Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
First Date 1939
Opening Date 1939
Last Date 1939
Dates Estimated Yes
Status Amateur
World Premiere No
Description Based on the romance between Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, and her father's unwillingness to allow them to marry.
The play was Besier's only real success as a playwright. He had been turned down by two London producers, but managed to have it staged in Malvern, directed by Sir Barry Jackson.
He then turned to the United States, but was rebuffed by no fewer than 27 producers, before the actress Katharine Cornell took a personal interest in the play and had it staged at the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio in 1931. The role of Elizabeth Barrett worked so well for Cornell that it became her signature role.
The Barretts of Wimpole Street then went to Broadway, where it opened on 9 February 1931 at the Empire Theatre, starring Katharine Cornell and Brian Aherne.[2] It was revived there in 1934 and 1945.
Primary Genre Theatre - Spoken Word
Organisations
Contributors
Name Function Notes
Agnes Dobson Director
Rudolf Besier Playwright
Works
Text Nationality England
Production Nationality Australia
Event Status Completed
Data Source
Source Description
Book "Dreamers and Visionaries" by Thelma Afford
Event Identifier 70632
Dataset AusStage