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Passion, Poison and Petrification

A Brief Tragedy for Barns and Booths.

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    George Bernard (GB) Shaw 

  • Setting

    A bed-stting room in a fashionable quarter of London, the 1900s.

  • Synopsis

    Lady Fitztollemache wakes up just in time to save herself from being murdered by her jealous husband. Her friend, the fashion dandy Adolphus Bastable, is not so lucky. Poisoned by Lord Fitztollemache, he finds himself rendered a living statue. Based on a children's story Shaw had published in Furniss' Christmas Annual in 1905.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    One Act

  • Cast Size Male

    5

  • Cast Size Female

    2

  • Cast Notes

    In the original production Messrs. Mason, Tucker, Mancy and Humphreys were credited as playing 'A Choir of Invisible Angels'

Original Production

  • Date of First Production

    14 July 1905

  • Production Notes

    Produced in order to raise funds for the Actors' Orphanage.
  • Producer

  • Original Venue


  • Venue Notes

    First presented in a booth at Regent's Park London.

Original Cast  
George Fitztollemache, the husband Eric Lewis
Lady Magnesia Fitztollemache Irene Vanbrugh
Phyllis, the maid Nancy Price
Adolphus Bastable, a leader of fashion Cyril Maude
Landlord Lennox Pawle
Police Constable Arthur Williams
Doctor G.P. Huntley

Published Scripts

Rights Information

Source Of Information