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Enid Bagnold

ENID BAGNOLD   (1889 - 1981)

Nationality:   English    Email:   Click here to contact    Website:   n/a

Literary Agent:  Dominick Jones, 6 Hurlbut Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-1604, USA
1-617 497 5868; website; email

Enid Algerine Bagnold, Lady Jones, CBE (27 October 1889  31 March 1981), known by her maiden name as Enid Bagnold. Enid Bagnold was born in Rochester, Kent, England; the daughter of an officer in the Royal Engineers. As a child she lived in Jamaica but was educated in Switzerland and England. Just before the First World War she was attending Art School but gave it up to volunteeras a nurse.She wrote a very critical pamphlet about her experiences and was sacked - she then volunteered as a driver and served in France. After the War she worked as a journalist and had an affair with Frank Harris but married Sir Roderick Jones. After her marriage she started writing seriously. "The Chalk Garden" is probably her most famous play - inspired by her own garden at North End House Rottingdean. Her novel "National Velvet" has been filmed at least twice. She died at Rottingdean, Kent in 1981.

Plays by Enid Bagnold

ENID BAGNOLD

Call Me Jacky

1st Produced:

Playhouse, Oxford

1967

Company:

n/a

1st Published:

in "Plays of the Year 38" Elek Books, London, 1968

ISBN/ASIN:

-

Music:

-

doollee no

#1525

To Buy This Play:

If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

 

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Genre:

Comedy

Parts:

Male

4

Female

4

Parts other:

-

Notes:

aka A Matter of Gravity

Synopsis:

Grande Dame Mrs Basil has an Estate Agent - Charlie (with bright dyed yellow hair) making a offer for her house and grounds so that his company can demolish it and build smaller houses on the property. She dismisses him as her grandson, Niggie is arriving. Niggie is concerned that his grandmother's new housekeeper/cook is not only an alcoholic but an ex-inmate of an institution. Niggie has invited some guests for the weekend in the hopes that they will be stimulationg company for Mrs Basil. There is Shatov a communist much given to speaking at rallies but has a stutter when upset or excited. She is accompanied by Elizabeth a mixed race young woman from Trinidad who has only recently arrived in England - but her view of the Country has been gotten from novels of the Brontes and Jane Austen. The other guests are Herbert an older man with his teenage boyfriend Tom. Tom is a "reformed" drug addictand is in to self harm. The housekeeper/cook, Du Bois (Jacky) reconises Shatov but Shatov denies this even though Du Bois addresses her by her first name - which was not known to the others. Niggie is entranced with Elizabeth. Du Bois realises that Tom is still taking drugs and finds a hypodermicneedle in his pocket she takes him into the kitchen to sort him out. Later she returns with a knife and says that she has murdered Tom and gets Herbert to telephone the asylum and get them to take her back. Having done this Tom walks in - having only cut himself - but he has overheard Herbert talking about their relationship and realises that things are over between them he gets money from Herbert and leaves. Niggie and Elizabeth plan to marry And Du Bois is taken away. Eight years later Mrs Basil has been unable to keep up the house and it is now in a bad state. Herbert is staying with her together with his new boyfriend, Charlie - the Estate Agent. Tom is dead having cut his own throat. Niggie and Elizabeth are back from the West Indies where they live for the first time since leaving eight years ago. They now have two children. Mrs Basil has also invited Sholtov down for the weekend and Du Bois has returned also. Elizabeth has always loved the house so Mrs Basil gives it to her and books herself and Du Bois into the executive wing of the asylum. Herbert leaves with Charlie - Mrs Basil doesn't think Charlie is good enough for Herbert. Du Bois tries again to get Mrs Basil to call her Jacky - Mrs Basil says she will be buggered if she would.

Further Reference:

-


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ENID BAGNOLD

Chalk Garden, The

1st Produced:

Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York

26 Oct 1955

Company:

n/a

1st Published:

Random House, New York, 1956

ISBN/ASIN:

-

Music:

-

doollee no

#1526

To Buy This Play:

If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

 

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Genre:

3 act play

Parts:

Male

2

Female

7

Parts other:

-

Notes:

-

Chalk Garden, The

Try as she might Mrs St Maugham is unable to grow flowers in her beloved garden because of the chalk and her lack of skill with plants. Her daughter has re-married and Mrs St Maugham has adopted her grand daughter Laurel. Laurel is somewhat wild and unruly and has had a number of paid companions. Miss Madrigal is the latest. She has arrived with no references and keeps quite about her past. She not only is able to help Laurel but has a knack with gardens. One day Mrs St Maugham invites a prominent Judge to lunch. He recognises Miss Madrigal as someone he once sentenced to death.

Further Reference:

Wearing 56.63; Theatre Record Vol VI (1986) Page 0547; Theatre Record Vol IX (1989) Page 0427; Theatre Record Vol XII (1992) Page 0385; Theatre Record Vol XXVIII (2008) Page 0679


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ENID BAGNOLD

Chinese Prime Minister, The

1st Produced:

Royale Theatre, New York

02 Jan 1964

Company:

n/a

1st Published:

Samuel French, NY, 1964

ISBN/ASIN:

-

Music:

-

doollee no

#1527

To Buy This Play:

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Genre:

Comedy

Parts:

Male

5

Female

3

Parts other:

-

Notes:

-

Synopsis:

Faithful servant watches over old retired actress as she confronts new crises after family conflict

Further Reference:

-


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ENID BAGNOLD

Gertie

1st Produced:

Plymouth Theatre, New York

30 Jan 1952

Company:

n/a

1st Published:

I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page.

ISBN/ASIN:

-

Music:

-

doollee no

#1528

To Buy This Play:

If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

 

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abebooks.co.uk

stageplays.com

amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

amazon.ca

Genre:

Comedy

Parts:

Male

3

Female

4

Parts other:

-

Notes:

aka Little Idiot

Synopsis:

Further Reference:

-


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ENID BAGNOLD

Last Joke, The

1st Produced:

Phoenix Theatre, London

1960

Company:

n/a

1st Published:

Little, Boston, Massachusetts, 1970

ISBN/ASIN:

-

Music:

-

doollee no

#1529

To Buy This Play:

If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

 

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abebooks.co.uk

stageplays.com

amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

amazon.ca

Genre:

Play/Drama

Parts:

Male

7

Female

2

Parts other:

-

Notes:

-

Synopsis:

Romanian prince tries to recover his mothers art collection from millionaire whose daughter is in love with prince's brother.

Further Reference:

-


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ENID BAGNOLD

Lottie Dundass

1st Produced:

Vaudeville Theatre, London

1943

Company:

n/a

1st Published:

(French's Acting Edition No. 415). SF, 1944

ISBN/ASIN:

-

Music:

-

doollee no

#1530

To Buy This Play:

If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

 

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stageplays.com

amazon.com

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amazon.ca

Genre:

Play/Drama

Parts:

Male

7

Female

7

Parts other:

-

Notes:

-

Synopsis:

Mrs Dundas' husband was the son of a great actor. He thought that he was a great actor too and strangled the manager of the repertory company he was in because she failed to recognise his greatness. Many years later, Mrs Dundas is living near Brighton with four of her seven children. One, Lottie has ambitions to be a great actress - but has a weak heart and so is unable to perform. A company of actors come to Brighton and the leading actress is taken ill and her understudy is away and cannot get back. Lottie sees her opportunity. She already has learnt the part and is set to go on when the understudy turns up. Lottie strangles her and goes on stage. Lottie's friend discovers the body and informs Mrs Dundas. They confront Lottie in her dressing room during the interval. Mrs Dundas hopes that Lottie's babbling will be proof that she is mad. Then Lottie starts to have a heart attack. Mrs Dundas refuses to give her her medicine.

Further Reference:

-


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ENID BAGNOLD

Matter of Gravity, A

1st Produced:

Broadhurst Theatre, NY

23 Mar 1976

Company:

n/a

1st Published:

Heinemann 1978

ISBN/ASIN:

978-0434043040

Music:

-

doollee no

#32963

To Buy This Play:

If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

 

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amazon.co.uk

amazon.ca

Genre:

comedy

Parts:

Male

4

Female

4

Parts other:

-

Notes:

aka Call Me Jacky

Synopsis:

It is very disconcerting when one's cook keeps levitating

Further Reference:

-


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ENID BAGNOLD

National Velvet

1st Produced:

- - -

1946

Company:

n/a

1st Published:

Dramatist Play Service, NY,

ISBN/ASIN:

-

Music:

-

doollee no

#1531

To Buy This Play:

If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

 

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stageplays.com

amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

amazon.ca

Genre:

Play/Drama

Parts:

Male

7

Female

4

Parts other:

-

Notes:

-

Synopsis:

Velvet Brown is a little girl with a big dream. Day and night she talks of horses; the sleek beautiful animals who have the courage and stamina to win in England's famous Grand National. Someday she too will enter this most grueling and difficult of races. Velvet's family has little patience with her dreams of glory; except for her mother, who swam the English Channel when she was younger, and knows that one must stretch one's abilities to capture the wildest hopes; and Mi Taylor, whose love of horses matches Velvet's own. Mi recognizes in Velvet the same spirit which had given her mother the will to succeed. There is a lottery about to be held, the prize being "The Piebald," and undisciplined and seemingly useless horse. Mi buys Velvet a ticket and she wins! After that the story is one of making a dream come true, as they train the horse and enter it in the Grand National. And they almost win, but what really matters is what they learn, about life, and people, and the things that really matter when momentary

Further Reference:

-


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ENID BAGNOLD

Poor Judas

1st Produced:

Arts, London

18 Jul 1951

Company:

n/a

1st Published:

in Two Plays: Lottie Dundass and poor Judas, William Heinemann (1951)

ISBN/ASIN:

B0028UA1MW

Music:

-

doollee no

#1532

To Buy This Play:

If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

 

abebooks.com
abebooks.co.uk

stageplays.com

amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

amazon.ca

Genre:

3 act play

Parts:

Male

7

Female

3

Parts other:

-

Notes:

-

Synopsis:

Further Reference:

Wearing 51.163


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Research

Internet Broadway Database
Enid Bagnold papers, 1912 - 1971. Call number GEN MSS 78