Written by Maxwell Anderson Original language English Playwright Maxwell Anderson Place premiered August Wilson Theatre | Date premiered November 27, 1930 First performance 27 November 1930 Genre Drama | |
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Setting various parts of Whitehall palace Adaptations The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) Similar Maxwell Anderson plays, Dramas | ||
Elizabeth the Queen was a 1930 Broadway three-act play written in blank verse by Maxwell Anderson, produced by the Theatre Guild, directed by Philip Moeller and with scenic and costume design by Lee Simonson. It ran for 147 performances from November 3, 1930, to March 1931 at the Guild Theatre. The starring roles were played by Lynn Fontanne as Elizabeth and Alfred Lunt as Lord Essex.
Contents
It was adapted into a 1939 film The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Bette Davis, Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland and a 1968 TV movie, Elizabeth the Queen directed by George Schaefer and starring Judith Anderson and Charlton Heston.
Plot
The play revolves around the love affair but also jealousy between the aging Queen Elizabeth I of England and her much younger suitor Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex.
Cast
Multiple roles as Courtiers, Guards, Men-at-arms: