Theater:

Rhinoceros

The final theatrical production of Orson Welles' career came shortly after the Dublin run of Chimes at Midnight, in April 1960. The play, by Eugene Ionesco, tells the story of one man who refuses to join in with the crowd, who are willingly changing into rhinos. This absurdist drama allowed easy points to be made about the fascism of the crowd, and how individualism is easily lost. The production received general acclaim, but Welles and Olivier clashed, as one might expect from two men with such huge egos. Why exactly Olivier wanted to work with someone who he knew would be just as certain as he was in an artistic vision, and then try to upstage or derail it, is a good question. Regardless, Welles never returned to the stage again, although whether that had anything to do with this production in particular is questionable.

Opened: April 28, 1960

Closed: July 30, 1960

Royal Court Theatre, London (April 28-June 7) Strand Theatre (June 8-July 30)

Written by Eugene Ionesco

Direction, Set, Costumes, Lighting, Sound Effects by Orson Welles

Translated by Derek Prouse

Original Cast:

Bessie: Monica Evans

Berenger: Laurence Olivier

John: Duncan Macrae

A Grocer: Henry Woolf

Grocer's Wife: Margery Caldicott

Lady with a Cat: Hazel Hughes

A Logician: Geoffrey Dunn

An Old Gentleman: Michael Bates

A Publican: Will Stamp

Daisy: Joan Plowright (Maggie Smith at Strand)

Duddard: Alan Webb (Michael Gough at Strand)

Mr. Butterfly: Miles Malleson

Bottard: Peter Sallis

Mrs. Beef: Gladys Henson

A Fireman: Philip Anthony

Program from the Strand Theatre