Becket

*If you don't want to read this long "review" (and I don't blame you!), skip to the asterisk at the bottom. What I like most about this play is Anouilh's skilled weaving of contemporary politics, history, and his own message. Much like his Antigone, this play takes an already-familiar story and reima......more

Roughly, Murder in the Cathedral, in French and without the poetry. It's still very good. Anouilh's big thing was saying No, and here he gets plenty of scope to work with that theme.......more

Originally published on my blog here in January 2002. The relationship between Henry II and Backet is a fascinating one, particularly with the way that it changed once Becket was ordained and became Archbishop of Canterbury. Though more accessible, Anouilh's version of the story is probably less well......more

If you have never seen Becket, the movie, with Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton, you must. It's based on this play by Jean Anouilh that I had never read. I ran across the LA Theaterworks production on Audible and gave it a try. Wonderful production and play. My only complaint is that it was sometime......more

Because you have remained my prince.......more