Harvard Crimson 1939: Welles talks about the 'Five Kings'

[RayKelly]

A February 23, 1939 interview with Welles discussing "Five Kings," a play that would later become the film "Chimes at Midnight."

"I guarantee that no dirty passages from Shakespeare have been omitted from my new production, 'Five Kings,'" Orsan Welles revealed in an interview yesterday. The famous young actor director explained that with the aid of the Kittredge notes he has attempted to reproduce Shakespeare in as near the original form as possible.

When questioned about university dramatics, Welles said, "It seems that a good proportion of the members of both the American and English stage have served their apprenticeship in college and school dramatics. As a matter of fact, college dramatics seem to be almost a stepping-stone to success in the theatre. As for myself, I guess I am the exception to the rule; for I have had only four years of schooling in my life."

The noted actor went on to discuss the difference between the stage and radio from a thespian's standpoint. Pointing out that broadcasting makes for a purer art of the theatre, he continued, "Whereas the reactions of an audience may make or break a show on the stage, only comedians must have an active audience on the air. My weekly broadcasts are given without onlookers, for then I can re-enact a drama for its own sake. If people want to applaud, let them do so in their homes."

Unlike his last year's production of "Julius Caesar," Mr. Welles is planning to include all the true Shakespearian costumes in his new play. He pointed out that "Five Kings" is a period play, while a close analogy can be drawn between the problems in "Julius Caesar" and present-day conditions.

Speaking of what many people term his radical changes in the theatre, Welles said, "We are not trying to change the theatre, but are merely trying to rid ourselves of those customs which are nothing more nor less than bad habits. Such frills as unnecessary scenery and lavish costumes are those evils we are combatting. In this way, we hope that we may bring the theatre back to its purest form."

The Harvard Crimson article can be found online at http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1939/2/23/orson-welles-says-five-kings-is/

[mteal]

Thanks Ray, I haven't seen too many articles about FIVE KINGS. How I wish I could have seen that revolving stage they used for it. I was very impressed with the one they used for LES MISERABLES when I saw it some 20 years ago. Welles had a lot of problems with the stage, but they were starting to get the kinks out when they production folded.

Found this interesting little tidbit when I was going through the Welles archive at the University of Michigan:

When the American Film Institute had a seminar devoted to his work in 1978, Welles did not want Burgess Meredith (his Prince Hal for the 1939 production) on the AFI panel and blamed him for quitting FIVE KINGS, so they couldn't take it to Broadway. Welles wanted Kieth Baxter on the panel instead, and so he signed Baxter's Green Card. However, the AFI undoubtedly wanted Meredith on the panel, as his star was shining bright at the time because of ROCKY, so Welles finally resigned himself to having two Prince Hals on the panel; one good and one bad.