The Dark Is Light Enough

Cover first edition, Oxford University Press, 1954 (illustration: Ronald Searle)

The Dark Is Light Enough is a 1954 verse play by Christopher Fry, which he wrote for Dame Edith Evans and set during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. It is formally a comedy, but Fry subtitled the play 'A Winter Comedy' to signal its tragic qualities.

The play, directed by Peter Brook, premiered at the Aldwych Theatre in London, UK, in May 1954.

Original London cast

• Countess Rosmarin Ostenburg – Edith Evans
• Richard Gettner – James Donald
• Gelda (Daughter of the Contess) – Margaret Johnston
• Colonel Janik – John Glen
• Count Peter Zichy – Jack Gwillim
• Stefan (Son of the Contess) – Peter Barkworth
• Kassel (Doctor) – Peter Bull
• Bella – Violet Farebrother

Original Broadway cast

The extended preview season started on Broadway at the ANTA Playhouse on 23 February 1955 and closed on 23 April 1955, after a total of 69 performances. It was directed by Guthrie McClintic.

• Countess Rosmarin Ostenburg – Katharine Cornell
• Richard Gettner – Tyrone Power
• Gelda (Daughter of the Contess) – Marian Winters
• Colonel Janik – Arnold Moss
• Count Peter Zichy – Christopher Plummer
• Stefan (Son of the Contess) – Paul Roebling
• Kassel (Doctor) – William Podmore
• Bella – Eva Condon
• Belmann – John Williams
• Fourth Soldier – Dario Barri
• Third Soldier – Jerome Gardino
• Beppy – Ted Gunther
• Jakob – Donald Harron
• Willi – Charles Macaulay
• Rusti, A Hungarian corporal – Sydney Pollack

Adaptations

A 90-minute BBC TV version was broadcast in January 1958, starring Edith Evans as the Countess and Peter Wyngarde as Richard Gettner. It was directed by Stuart Burge.

External links

• ​The Dark Is Light Enough​ at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Dark Is Light Enough at IMDb