Epitaph for George Dillon

Themes

The play tells the story of Kate Elliot's unhappy suburban South London family and the domestic havoc wrought when she decides to adopt George Dillon as a surrogate son.

It tackles typical Osborne themes, including religion (and Osborne's hatred thereof), vegetarianism, the casual deception of everyday life and scorn of the theatre. In common with Jimmy Porter in Look Back in Anger, George Dillon is an intelligent man unable to find his place in the world.

London

It opened professionally at the Royal Court Theatre on 11 February 1958, in a production by William Gaskill, with the following cast (in order of appearance):

• Wendy Craig ... Josie Elliot
• Yvonne Mitchell ... Ruth Gray
• Alison Leggatt ... Mrs. Elliot
• Avril Elgar ... Norah Elliot
• Toke Townley ... Percy Elliot
• Robert Stephens ... George Dillon
• Philip Locke ... Geoffrey Colwyn-Stuart
• Paul Bailey ... Mr Webb
• Nigel Davenport ... Barney Evans

;Critical reception In The Observer, Kenneth Tynan called it "Powerful, honest and transfixing"; while in The Sunday Times, Harold Hobson wrote that the play "absorbs and fascinates because it is that rarest of theatrical phenomena, a realistic modern drama which is not bourgeois in its underlying assumptions. It is like a familiar building caught at an angle which suddenly makes it look like something never seen before."

Broadway

It made its debut on Broadway on 4 November 1958 starring Wendy Craig but was a failure and closed on 22 November 1958 after just 23 performances. Another version by new management and separately-financed opened during the same season on 12 January 1959, again starring Craig but was also a commercial failure playing for 48 performances, and closing on 21 February 1959. The first version received three Tony Award nominations - Best play; best direction (William Gaskill) and best actor (Robert Stephens). ;Original Broadway cast

• Wendy Craig ... Josie Elliot
• Felix Deebank ... Barney Evans
• Avril Elgar ... Norah Elliot
• Frank Finlay ... Percy Elliot
• Eileen Herlie ... Ruth Gray
• Alison Leggatt ... Mrs. Elliot
• Robert Stephens ... George Dillon
• James Valentine... Geoffrey Colwyn-Stuart
• David Vaughan ... Mr Webb

2005 London revival

A successful West End revival of the play ran at the Comedy Theatre from 27 September 2005 until 14 January 2006, directed by Peter Gill and starring Joseph Fiennes, Francesca Annis and Anne Reid.

It also featured Geoffrey Hutchings, Zoe Tapper, Dorothy Atkinson, Stephen Greif, Hugh Simon and Alex Dunbar.

Adaptations

In 1969, BBC Radio broadcast a production starring John Hurt in the title role; and in 1994, another version starring Michael Maloney.

Online Reviews

• Guardian
• The Stage
• CurtainUp
• The British Theatre Guide
• Variety
• Anni Bruno

References

References

1. (12 June 2014). "Epitaph for George Dillon". Faber & Faber.
2. League, The Broadway. "Epitaph for George Dillon – Broadway Play – Original - IBDB".
3. Heilpern, John. (19 October 2007). "John Osborne: A Patriot for Us". Vintage.
4. (12 June 2014). "Epitaph for George Dillon". Faber & Faber.
5. "Epitaph for George Dillon".
6. "Epitaph for George Dillon".
7. (27 May 1959). "19 B'Way Hits During '58-'59".
8. "Epitaph for George Dillon (second version)".
9. "Epitaph For George Dillon, Comedy Theatre, London".
10. Billington, Michael. (28 September 2005). "Epitaph for George Dillon, Comedy, London". The Guardian.
11. (14 July 1969). "Epitaph for George Dillon".
12. "BBC Radio Drama, Radio 3 , 1994,DIVERSITY website".