The Belle of Amherst
The Belle of Amherst | |
---|---|
Written by | William Luce |
Characters | Emily Dickinson |
Date premiered | April 28, 1976 |
Place premiered | Longacre Theatre New York City |
Original language | English |
The Belle of Amherst is a
Based on the life of poet Emily Dickinson from 1830 to 1886, and set in her Amherst, Massachusetts, home, the 1976 play makes use of her work, diaries, and letters to recollect her encounters with the significant people in her life – family, close friends, and acquaintances. It balances the agony of her seclusion with the brief bright moments when she was able to experience some joy.
After one preview, the original
Harris, who portrayed 15 different characters in the play, won the
Dickinson biographer Lyndall Gordon criticized the play for perpetuating Mabel Loomis Todd's chaste, hermit-like image of Dickinson, as opposed to the lively, witty, provocative, and sometimes erotic Dickinson present in her work and known to those who knew her more personally.[6]
The Spanish translation of the play was done by Argentinean poet
In 1999, the play was presented by Cesear's Forum at Playhouse Square, Cleveland, Ohio. The production presented Dickinson in the attic of her home as a kind of apparition. Keith Joseph of Cleveland Scene found the work bizarre, mysterious and poignant. Of Cleveland actress Sheila E. Maloney, he writes: "Her poetess, instead of suggesting the usual fragility of one of the world's most famous recluses, has the mad glee of Arsenic and Old Lace's Brewster Sisters. Her approach is hearty and hale."[9]
References
- ^ Gussow, Mel."Stage: 'Belle of Amherst'; Julie Harris Portrays Emily Dickinson" The New York Times (abstract), April 29, 1976
- ISBN 0-19-512347-6, p. 102
- ^ "The Belle of Amherst" Internet Movie Database, accessed October 31, 2011
- ^ Rohmann, Chris."Review:'The Belle of Amherst' at Columbus Center, Springfield, Mass." aislesay.com, accessed October 31. 2011
- ^ Ehren, Christine."Julie Harris Returns to 'Belle of Amherst' Oct. 13-Nov. 5 in Seattle" playbill.com, October 13, 2000
- ^ "A bomb in her bosom: Emily Dickinson's secret life" The Guardian. Lyndall Gordon. 12 Feb 2010
- ^ "WEEKENDER GUIDE (Published 1983)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2019-07-04.
- ^ Correo.com
- ^ Joseph, Keith A. (June 10, 1999). "A Touch of the Poetess". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
External links