The Tony Award for Best Play in 1961 went to Becket, by Jean Anouilh. This play is well know to have a LOT of historical inaccuracies . . . but that doesn’t mean that it’s not good theatre! From Wikipedia:
The play is a re-enactment of the conflicts between King Henry II and Thomas Becket as Becket, best friend to Henry II, ascends to power becoming the King’s enemy. Becket begins as a clever, but hedonistic, companion; as a result of being created Archbishop of Canterbury, he is transformed into an ascetic who does his best to preserve the rights of the church against the king’s power.
Ultimately, Becket is slaughtered by several of the king’s nobles, and the king is then forced to undergo penance for the murder.
And now . . . a little info about a contest!!!
At the end of Blogathon 2009, I will be sending either the soundtrack to a musical or the script to a play that I mention today. Yes, that’s right, you get a free dose of theatre!!! I’ll take the top three sponsors (largest donations) and let them pick one of the shows I mention today. If it’s a musical, then they’ll get the soundtrack. If it’s a play, then they’ll get the script. Don’t you want to sponsor me now?!?!?!
This post is for the Blogathon 2009! I am blogging for The Actor’s Fund. For more information about what I am doing, please click here, or you can sponsor me!