The Shrike

Summary

1960 Granada Television production for ITV of The Shrike by Joseph Kramm.

Theatre play

The Shrike by Joseph Kramm (1907-1991) [more information]

Play synopsis

'The play is set in the mental ward of a city hospital, and revolves around a theatrical director named Jim Downs, who has been driven to the verge of insanity and suicide by his estranged wife Ann, who is the "shrike" alluded to in the play’s title. To outsiders, Ann seems to epitomize sweetness, kindness and graciousness. In reality, she is a bitter, manipulative shrew. Like the shrike, a small predatory bird that kills and impales smaller birds, Ann seems harmless but brings death and destruction to everyone she grows close to. Ann married Jim in hopes that he would eventually gain fame, wealth and stardom, and so his lack of success galls her. Her mockery and nagging led Jim to an unsuccessful suicide attempt, by swallowing a bottle of sleeping pills. This led to his commitment to a mental hospital, where Jim finds that it will not be easy to secure a release. Getting out of the hospital will require the help and cooperation of Ann, who enjoys holding power over her husband’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shrike_%28play%29).

Production history

First performed on Broadway at the Cort Theater on 15 January 1952, with Jose Ferrer as the producer, director and star. Kramm received the 1952 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work.

Date of transmission

Tuesday 28 June 1960

Time

9.35-11.05pm

Series

Play of the Week

Channel

ITV

Production company

Granada Television (1956-)

Credits

Director

Silvio Narizzano

Playwright

Joseph Kramm (1907-1991)

Adapted for Television by

John Glennon

Designer

William Brodie

Cast

Harry Baird	Major
Loretta Baker	Miss Hansen
Patience Collier	Dr Barrow
James Dyrenforth	Patient
Margaret Johnston	Ann Downs
Peter Madden	Schloss
E. G. Marshall	Jim Downs
Paul Maxwell	Don Gregory
Daniel Moynihan	Grosberg
Stuart Nichol	Dr Kramer
John Steed	O’Brien
Sean Sullivan	Dr Bellman
Alister Williamson	Harry Downs

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

America, as theme or setting; American drama; mental health / illness; theatre or acting, as theme

Print sources

Title

TV Times, 24 June 1960 (Magazine)

Linking notes

article, with image, p. 17; listing, with image, p. 29