This is simply one of the finest plays written, performed, and produced. I have seen both versions.
A modern Shakespearean style play starring two of the greatest actors of our time. A must-see.
One of the great poetic drama works of the 20th century, this has been televised three times in 1954 with Christopher Plummer, Richard Burton(from the original Broadway cast that starred John Gielgud)and Mary Ure, this version and a later one. Would that this one could be on DVD.
Take a world-weary mercenary, and throw him into a household of mayor-uncle, convention-bound mom, two lusty, empty-headed sons, a servant, a naive girl just out of the convent and an accused witch about to be burned, put them in a setting of about 1400 AD and stir, and you get this wonderful work.The elegant poetic language carved its way into a romantic nineteen year old's brain when I first saw this.
I am fortunate to have made a video of this broadcast so I am not speaking from memory.The title role (ie "the lady") is played perfectly by Cherie Lunghi who is superbly supported by Kenneth Brannagh.
I love this play!!! I love the language, the comedy, the characters & the story.
I'm not kidding. My sister had to remind me to breathe as we sat and watched this excellent drama together.
I saw this performance on PBS many years ago, taped it, and watched it again several times before I lost the tape by lending it to a "friend." Chamberlain's performance is transcendent, and that's not a word I use very often.
Fortunately, I don't have to rely on my memory (thank God --I'd be in serious difficulty if I did) of the original broadcast because I had the foresight (aka sheer dumb luck) to tape it from the PBS showing. I was living in Washington DC then and the local PBS station offered good, clear reception, so the video was better than I'd expected.
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