Androcles and the Lion is a 1967 American TV special. It is a musical adaptation of the George Bernard Shaw play Androcles and the Lion.[1]
| Androcles and the Lion | |
|---|---|
| Genre | musical comedy |
| Based on | Androcles and the Lion by George Bernard Shaw |
| Written by | Peter Stone |
| Directed by | Joe Layton |
| Starring | Norman Wisdom Noel Coward |
| Composer | Richard Rogers |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Marc Merson |
| Running time | 90 mins |
| Production company | NBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | November 15, 1967 |
It was adapted by Peter Stone and directed by Joe Layton. The songs were by Richard Rodgers.
Plot edit
Androcles, a simple-hearted Christian tailor, becomes friends with a lion by removing a thorn from his paw.
Later, the lion saves Androcles and his friends from martyrdom in the Roman Colosseum.
Cast edit
- Norman Wisdom as Androcles
- Inga Swenson as Lavinia
- Noël Coward as Caesar
- Ed Ames as Ferrovius
- Geoffrey Holder as Lion
- John Cullum as The Captain
- Brian Bedford as Lentulus
- Patricia Routledge as Magaera
- William Redfield as Metellus
Production edit
NBC approached Richard Rodgers to write the music and he decided to be his own lyricist. Peter Stone, who wrote the book, said "It is amazing how many opportunities the play offers for musical comedy. I have added no new scenes although there are certain expansions to allow for musicalization. And I have not created any new characters. Shaw, who wrote the play 52 years ago, used contemporary language. There are no anachronisms and the jokes he used were modern."[1]
The Shaw estate had to approve any changes to the text.[2]
The show was taped in a studio in Brooklyn. Peter Stone felt the problem with the production was the direction of Joe Layton, whom Rogers trusted. "He was very gifted and extremely smart and articulate, but what he always wanted was that a show be conceived by Joe Layton, and he came up with a conception that hurt Androcles terribly," said Stone. The writer said "he did it in such a way that there were no close-ups. It was all far away, and somehow it just had no energy. You couldn't cut it, because there was nothing to cut it against. Just these endless long shots, which on television in those days looked like little tiny figures."[3]
Reception edit
The Los Angeles Times called it "toothless".[4] The New York Times said it "took unhappy toll of varied talents" and "wavered disconcertingly in its indecision over whether to be serious or to have fun" with a "lack of light touch in the staging".[5]
Stone said "It was a failure, which was a shame because I thought the show as written was pretty good. First of all, it was a Shaw play, and how wrong can you get? And I thought Dick wrote some pretty good numbers in the Hammerstein mold."[3]
Noel Coward later wrote in his diary "Joe Layton directed it very well, everyone was extremely nice, but I didn't enjoy any of it. I hate television anyway. It has all the nervous pressures of a first night with none of the response. However, I was apparently very good. "[6]
Wisdom wrote in his memoirs, "it was an unusual role for me. No-one in Britain in a million years would have cast me as Androcles, but unexpected things happen in America. I enjoyed it — and I sang several numbers, including ‘Velvet Paws’ which was a nice catchy little piece. The show went out as planned, with an excellent critical reaction."[7]
Richard Rodgers wrote in his memoirs, "The show itself didn't come off well, I'm afraid, but it did give me the chance to be professionally associated with Noel Coward, who played Julius Caesar as a wickedly charming Noel Coward."[8]
Soundtrack edit
A soundtrack album was released.
Songs edit
- "Velvet Paws" – Norman Wisdom
- "Follow in Our Footsteps" - Ed Ames and Chorus
- "Strangers" – Inga Swenson and John Cullum
- "Strength Is My Weakness" – Norman Wisdom and Ed Ames
- "The Emperor's Thumb" – Noël Coward
- "No More Waiting" – Inga Swenson and John Cullum
- "The Arena Pantomime" – Norman Wisdom and Orchestra
- "Don't Be Afraid Of An Animal" – Noël Coward and Norman Wisdom
References edit
- ^ a b ANDROCLES'S LION TO ROAR TO MUSIC: N.B.C. To Present Shaw Play With a Rodgers Score By VAL ADAMS. New York Times 6 Sep 1966: 79.
- ^ Shaw Did Write 'Tootsie-Wootsie' By GLORIA STEINEM. New York Times 12 Nov 1967: 155.
- ^ a b Secrest, Meryle (2001). "Looking Straight Ahead". Somewhere for me: a biography of Richard Rodgers. New York, United States: Applause. p. 375. ISBN 9781557835819 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ TV REVIEWS: 'Dial M' and 'Androcles' Highlight of Special Night Los Angeles Times 17 Nov 1967: c24.
- ^ TV: Musical 'Androcles' By JACK GOULD. New York Times 16 Nov 1967: 95.
- ^ Coward, Noel (7 September 1967). The Noel Coward Diaries. Boston, Massachusetts, United States: Little, Brown and Company (published 1982). p. 654. ISBN 9780316695503 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Wisdom, Norman (1992). Don't laugh at me : an autobiography. London, England: Arrow. p. 187. ISBN 9780099233411 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Rodgers, Richard (1975). Musical stages. New York, New York, United States: Random House. p. 321. ISBN 9780394475967 – via Internet Archive.
External links edit
- Androcles and the Lion at IMDb
- Androcles and his Lion at TCMDB
- Androcles and the Lion at BFI
- Androcles and the Lion at Rogers and Hammerstein