In the Palace of the King

In the Palace of the King is a play by Lorimer Stoddard (1863-1901)[1]

The original text

A historical romantic drama based on the novel of the same name by F. Marion Crawford (1854-1909) [2], and dealing with the story of Philip II of Spain[3].

Adapted into a Broadway play by Lorimer Stoddard in 1900, it was produced by Liebler & Co. and directed by William Seymour, opening in the Theatre Republic on 31 December 1900 and played for 138 performances till April 1901.

Translations and adaptations

Twice filmed, once in 1915 and then again in 1923[4]

Performance history in South Africa

1907: Performed in Cape Town by the visiting Woods-Williamson Company during the first part of the year, as part of a short season at the Opera House, under the auspices of the Wheeler Brothers. The season also included The Garden of Lies (Grundy), The King's Mistress (Anon.) and The Gates of Bondage (Williamson). The season was not well received by the Cape Town public.

Sources

"In the Palace of the King" in The Oxford Companion to American Theatre: p 332[5]

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/in-the-palace-of-the-king-5423

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Marion_Crawford

"Lorimer Stoddard", Find a Grave website[6]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions_of_Philip_II_of_Spain

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.426-427

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