The Sleeping Prince: An Occasional Fairy Tale

The Sleeping Prince: An Occasional Fairy Tale is a play by Terence Rattigan (1911-1977) [1].

Also known simply as The Sleeping Prince.

The original text

Written to coincide with the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, the play is set in London in 1911 and tells the story of Mary Morgan, a young actress, who meets and ultimately captivates Prince Charles of Carpathia. The work is considered to be inspired by Carol II of Romania.

It was first produced at the Phoenix Theatre, London on November 5, 1953, directed by Laurence Olivier and featuring Vivien Leigh and himself and in New York at the Coronet Theatre on Broadway in November and December 1956, directed by Michael Redgrave and featuring Barbara Bel Geddes and himself.

Performance history in South Africa

1956: Staged by the Johannesburg Reps for Leonard Schach's Cockpit Players in September as The Reps' Johannesburg Festival production, directed by Minna Schneier with Moira Lister and Joss Ackland in the cast.

1987: Performed by NAPAC.

Sources

Theatre programme (Reps production) held by NELM: [Collection: FARMER, Anthony]: 2007. 18. 13. 1122.

Tucker, 1997. 98.

Lantern, 36 (2). 16. (NAPAC production).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sleeping_Prince_(play)

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