The Lark (play)

The Lark (French: L'Alouette) is a 1952 play about Joan of Arc by the French playwright Jean Anouilh. It was presented on Broadway in English in 1955, starring Julie Harris as Joan and Boris Karloff as Pierre Cauchon. It was produced by Kermit Bloomgarden. Lillian Hellman made the English adaptation and Leonard Bernstein composed the incidental music. The two stars of the play reprised their roles in a 1957 television production of the play, as part of the anthology series Hallmark Hall of Fame. A different television adaptation aired in 1958 in Australia.[1] There is another English translation by Christopher Fry.

Plot summary

The play covers the trial, condemnation, and execution of Joan, but has a highly unusual ending. Joan remembers important events in her life as she is being questioned, and is subsequently condemned to death. However, Cauchon realizes, just as Joan is burning at the stake, that in her judges' hurry to condemn her, they have not allowed her to re-live the coronation of Charles VII of France. The fire is therefore extinguished, and Joan is given a reprieve. The actual end of the story is left in question, but Cauchon proclaims it a victory for Joan.

1955 Broadway Production

The play premiered in Boston at the Plymouth Theater on October 28, 1955. The Boston Globe critic singled out Julie Harris lead character as "inspired".[2] The show then opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on November 17, 1955, where it ran for 229 performances, closing on June 2, 1956.[3] The opening night cast remained throughout the entire run, with the sole exception of Christopher Plummer whose character Warwick was taken up by Leo Ciceri.

Opening Night Cast
Role Actor
Warwick Christopher Plummer
Cauchon Boris Karloff
Joan Julie Harris
Her Father Ward Costello
Mother Lois Holmes
Brother John Reese
The Promoter Roger de Koven
The Inquisitor Joseph Wiseman
Brother Ladvenu Michael Higgins
Robert de Beauricourt Theodore Bikel
Agnes Sorel Ann Hillary
The Young Queen Joan Elan
The Dauphin Paul Robeling
Queen Yolande Rita Vale
Archbishop of Rheims Richard Nicholls
Captain La Hire Bruce Gordon
Executioner Ralph Roberts
English Soldier Ed Knight

1958 Australian TV adaptation

The play was adapted for Australian TV in 1958.

Awards and honors

Original Broadway production
Year Award ceremony Category Nominee Result
1956 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play Boris Karloff Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play Julie Harris Won
Best Director Joseph Anthony Nominated
Best Scenic Design Jo Mielziner Nominated
Best Costume Design Alvin Colt Nominated

References
  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3492030/
  2. Durgin, Cyrus (October 29, 1955). "Julie Harris as Joan of Arc in "The Lark", a Vivid Drama". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 22. Retrieved November 16, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "'Lark Closing', Will Tour U.S." Daily News. New York, New York. May 11, 1955. p. 97. Retrieved November 16, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.


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