A NEGLECTED play by the author of a Hitchcock psychological thriller is returning home six decades after it premiered.
The Duke in Darkness was penned by Patrick Hamilton who lived in Burlington Gardens, Chiswick, for 16 years and is most famous for writing the film Rope which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. But his forgotten play has not been performed since 1943 when it premiered.
Fast forward 70 years and actor and playwright Orlando Wells, 39, has taken on the task of adapting the play – which centres on a Duke and his servant imprisoned during the long and bloody 16th century civil wars in France – after finding a dusty first edition in the depths of the London Library.
A cast is currently rehearsing for the production which will be at the Tabard Theatre, just minutes away from where Patrick Hamilton lived and where there is a blue plaque dedicated to him.
Tooting-based Orlando, son of the late actress Susannah York, said: "An elderly friend told me ages ago about the Duke in Darkness but then you couldn’t just search it on the internet and it wasn’t in any book shops so it wasn’t until this time last year when I was in the London Library that I came across it and thought ‘this is really interesting’.
"I did think there must be a reason why it hasn’t been done for 60 years but I really think it’s a fascinating play. It also means I could interpret it how I wanted to. I’ve got rid of some characters and focused more on the love between these two men who are from very different backgrounds, not that it’s a homosexual play but they have been stuck in the same tower for 15 years which makes for an interesting study.
"I feel Patrick Hamilton has been unfairly forgotten, some of his novels are certainly as great as Graham Greene’s."
The father-of-four is pleased his production is at the Tabard Theatre as it is really bringing it back home to where Patrick Hamilton spent much of his life.
Jamie Treacher, 38, plays Gribaud, the Duke’s servant who he is imprisoned with. He said: “This was an area of history that I didn’t know about and it’s been absolutely fascinating. Orlando’s great to work with and the Tabard is such a wonderful space.
“Performing in big theatres is exciting but I like performing in smaller spaces because the audience can really feel your expressions and with Gribaud I feel that’s quite important as he slowly goes a bit crazy throughout the production.”
The actor, who is best known for playing DC Hughes in EastEnders, added that the small cast is getting along really well and the production is shaping up to be another success for Orlando, whose first production The Tin Horizon premiered to wide acclaim at Theatre 503 in Battersea in 2009.
The Duke in Darkness will run from Tuesday, April 16 until May 11 from Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm with matinees on Saturday at 4pm and on Sunday at 2pm. Tickets cost £15 to £17. Go to tabardweb.co.uk for more information and to book tickets.
