Two Shakespearean Actors

Synopsis: Video recording of the play by Richard Nelson directed by Jack O’Brien for the Cort Theatre, New York. Nelson gives an account of the rivalry between two great 18th century actors, one quintessentially American (Edwin Forrest), the other quintessentially British (Macready). Nelson dramatises the events that led to New York’s Astor Place riots in May 1849 in which some 30 people died when competing productions of Macbeth drove an America First mob to break up Macready’s performance. Videotaped for Theatre on Film and Tape (TOFT) by Richard Stucker.
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Recording date: 8 Feb 1992
Duration: 147 mins

Director

Jack O’Brien

Writer

Richard Nelson

Music

Bob James

Production Design

David Jenkins

Costume

Jane Greenwood

Contributor

Richard Stucker

Cast

Victor Garber	Edwin Forrest (Macbeth)
Le Clanché du Rand	Mrs Pope (Lady Macbeth)
Zeliko Ivanek	John Ryder (Macduff)
David Andrew Macdonald	Robert Jones (Malcolm)
Michael Butler	George Bradshaw (Banquo)
Bill Moor	Frederick Wemyss (Old Man)
Bill Moor	Frederick Wemyss (Siward, Earl of Northumberland)
Eric Stoltz	Dion Boucicault
Frances Conroy	Catherine Forrest
Graham Winton	Thomas Fisher (Witch (1st))
Hope Davis	Miss Anne Holland (Witch (3rd))
James Murtaugh	John Sefton (Witch (1st))
James Murtaugh	John Sefton (Donalbain)
Jefrey Alan Chandler	Scott
Jennifer Van Dyke	Miss Jane Bass (Witch (1st))
Katie Finneran	Mrs Wemyss
Laura Innes	Agnes Robertson
Mitchell Edmonds	Mr Chippindale (Witch (2nd))
Richard Clarke	Mr Blakely (King Duncan)
Tim MacDonald	James Bridges (Young Siward)
Tim MacDonald	James Bridges (Ross)
Tim MacDonald	James Bridges (Witch (3rd))
Tom Aldredge	Washington Irving
Tom Lacy	Tilton (Porter)

General: The production was dedicated to the memory of Joseph Papp.
Reviews: Rich, Frank. ‘War of Hams Where the Stage is All’ The New York Times (17 January 1992).

British Universities Film & Video Council