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The Lady's Not for Burning is a 1948 play by Christopher Fry.^[1] It is a romantic comedy in three acts, set in verse. It reflects the world's "exhaustion and despair" following World War 2, with a war-weary soldier who wants to die, and an accused witch who wants to live.^[2] In form, it resembles "Shakespeare's pastoral comedies."^[3] It was performed at a private club for two weeks in London in 1949 starring Alan Clunes, who had also commissioned it. Later that year John Gielgud took the play on a provencial tour followed by a successful London run at the Globe Theatre, which was later renamed in honor of Gielgud.^[4] Gielgud took the play to the United States, where it opened at the Royale theater on November 8, 1950, with Pamela Brown as the female lead. Richard Burton had a part in the cast. ^[5] The review of opening night by Brooks Atkinson had the highest praise for the acting, while describing the playwright as precocious with "a touch of genius," but saying that the words were "sometimes soporific" and that the acting made the play.^[6] The play ran on Broadway through March, 1951, and received the New York Drama Critics Circle award as best foreign play of 1950-51. ^[7] It was revived on Broadway in 1983.^[8]

The play takes place during the year "1400 either more or less or exactly," and the costumes are described as being "as much 15th century as anything else." The action of the play takes place in "a room in the house of Mayor Hebble Tyson."

Thomas Mendip is a recently discharged soldier who tires of the world and wants to be hanged. He enters the mayor's house and engages in brief conversation with Richard, the mayor's copying clerk. Alizon, the future wife of Humphrey, the Mayor's nephew, soon enters. She and Richard immediately feel a connection. Soon Nicholas, Humphrey's brother, enters, declaring that he has killed Humphrey in a battle over Alizon, and thus is deserving of her hand in marriage. Margaret, Nicholas and Humphrey's mother and Mayor Tyson's sister enters and sends Nicholas and Richard to get Humphrey up out of the garden, where he is lying, quite alive, after the fight with Nicholas. Noises outside the house make a witch-hunt known, and Thomas repeatedly reminds everyone that he is there to be hanged, and asks why doesn't anyone do anything about it. The Mayor enters, declaring that Thomas shall not be hanged for no reason, as there is absolutely no precedent for such an action. Thomas then says he has killed two people, so he is deserving of the gallows. The Mayor does not believe him. Jennet then enters. She is the accused witch. After depicting the wild tales they tell about her mystical powers and laughing at their ludicrous nature, she is shocked to hear that the Mayor is also of the opinion that she is a witch. The mayor sends Richard to get the constable to have her arrested, but Richard does not get the constable; he does not think she is a witch. The Chaplain enters next, apologizing for his tardiness to evening prayers, explaining that the world is so amazing, it is hard not to be distracted doing every day things.

1. ^ Fry, Christopher, "The Lady's Not For Burning," Paperback. Publisher: Dramatist's Play Service (January 1998). Language: English. ISBN 0-8222-1431-8
2. ^ Bemrose, John. "Drama that delivers." Maclean's. Toronto: Jun 8, 1998.Vol.111, Iss. 23; pg. 51
3. ^ Friedlander, Mira. "The Lady's Not for Burning." Variety Review Database. New York: Jun 1998. pg. n/a
4. ^ Gielgud, John, "Mr. Gielgud discovers Mr. Fry; Reliance on designer." New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Nov 5, 1950. pg. 98
5. ^ Zolotow, Sam, "Play by Fry bows tonight at Royale; 'The Lady's Not for Burning,' a British Importation, Stars John Gielgud, Pamela Brown." New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Nov 8, 1950. pg. 49
6. ^ Atkinson, Brooks, "At the theater." New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Nov 9, 1950. pg. 42
7. ^ Shanley, J.P. 'Darkness at Noon' wins critics' prize; Drama circle award winners." New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Apr 4, 1951. pg. 34
8. ^ Lawson, Carol. "BROADWAY." New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)). New York, N.Y.: Sep 16, 1983. pg. C.2