King’s Rhapsody

Summary

The producer of this BBC Television production of Ivor Novello’s musical King’s Rhapsody ‘ingeniously cut the three and a quarter hours of the original action to an hour and a half’ (Radio Times, 12 July 1957, p.15). Vanessa Lee reprised the role of Princess Cristiane which she took in the 1949 stage premiere at the Palace Theatre, London.

Theatre play

King’s Rhapsody by Ivor Novello [more information]

Play synopsis

'King Peter of Norselan has received a request for this hand of his daughter, Princess Cristiane, from the Kingdom of Murania. The King of Murania has died, his dominating widow, Queen Elena, takes charge and is determined that her exiled son, Nikki, should return and assume the throne. A Queen was necessary to provide an heir and hence the request to King Peter. Nikki exiled himself some 20 years earlier, along with his mistress, Marta Karillos, to Paris, due to the dominating attitude of his parents. The death of his father and King offers an opportunity to return. Queen Elena, along with Vanescu the Prime Minister, visit Nikki in Paris and the story evolves around ths plotting and planning of Nikki’s return; the arranged marriage between Nikki and Cristiane; their first meeting, where Cristiane poses as a maid and is seduced by Nikki, and their first official meeting at The Royal Ball to celebrate her arrival. Meanwhile, Cristiane is aware of Nikki’s past, invites Marta Karillos to the Ball and arouses Nikki’s anger. Nikki responds by preferring Marta as a dancing partner to her as his bride and future Queen. Cristiane considers an immediate return to Norseland, but decided against it and becomes a much loved and respected Queen by the Muranian people. Nikki maintains his liaison with Marta Karillos, which angers the people and an attempt is made on her life. This attempt is thwarted by Cristiane and Nikki. By this time, Cristiane has found that she is expecting Nikki’s child, which was apparently conceived at their first meeting. Nikki is deposed and it is at this moment that Nikki and Cristiane release that they are in love with each other. Nikki, however, leaves for Paris and lives with Marta Karillos; Cristiane gives birth to a son and assumes the mantel of Regent. The story ends where the Boy King is crowned and Nikki, despite being warned against it, appears alone, in the cathedral immediately following the coronation.' (Source: http://www.bmtg.org.uk/rhapsody.php.)

Production history

King’s Rhapsody, first staged in 1949, is ‘the last musical play by the late Ivor Novello - he died in 1950 during the course of its run at the Palace Theatre, London’ (Radio Times, 12 July 1957, p.15).

Date of transmission

Wednesday 17 July 1957

Time

9.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Douglas Moodie

Don Higgins (credited with ‘Illustrations’)

Playwright

Ivor Novello

Composer

Ivor Novello

Lyrics

Christopher Hassall

Musical Arrangements by

Alan Yates

Conductor

Eric Robinson (conducted the George Mitchell Singers and the orchestra)

Musician

Sybilla Marshall (solo piano)

Musician

Felton Rapley (organ)

Designer

Richard Henry

Costume Supervisor

Joyce Hammon

Make-up Supervisor

Susan Park

Dances Arranged by

Mark Stuart

Dancer

David Dulac

Dancer

Roy Evans

Dancer

Dorothy Fraser

Dancer

Derina House

Dancer

David Lusby

Dancer

Michael Miller

Dancer

Anthony Newman

Dancer

Kay Sargent

Dancer

Terry Skelton

Dancer

Joan Weston

Associate Producer

Albert Stevenson

Cast

Nicholas Amer	Volkoff
Bruno Barnabe	Chief Revolutionary
Brenda Bennett	a minor part
Hamlyn Benson	The Archibishop
Gay Cameron	Princess Hulda
Ruth Clark	a minor part
Linda Dixon	Princess Kirsten
Ian Fleming	King Peter of Norseland
Margot Grahame	Marta Karillos
June Grant	Countess Vera Lemainken
Irene Harrison	a minor part
David Hemmings	The Boy King
Mary Hignett	Countess Olga Varsov
Mary Hinton	Queen Elena of Murania
Griffith Jones	Nikki
Frederick Kelsey	a minor part
John Kidd	Jules
Vanessa Lee	Princess Cristiane
Moira Mannion	Madame Koska
Denis Martin	Count Egon Stanieff
Donald McCollom	a minor part
Roger Ostime	a minor part
Lilian Padmore	a minor part
William Patenall	a minor part
Austin Trevor	Vanescu

Additional details

Play tags

19th-century setting; musical; royalty

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 12 July 1957 (Magazine)

Linking notes

article and listing, with photograph, on p. 15