Composers and their stage works 



James Bridie

(1888 - 1951)

Scottish dramatist: pseudonym of Osborne Henry Mayor. Born January 3, 1888; died Edinburgh January 29, 1951

Stage Works

  1. The Sunlight Sonata, or To Meet the Seven Deadly Sins. Farce-morality; prologue and epilogue, 3 scenes. Produced Glasgow, Lyric Theatre (Scottish National Players), Mar. 20, 1928.
  2. The Switchback. Play, 3 acts. Produced Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Mar. 9, 1929.
  3. What It Is to Be Young. Play, 3 acts. Produced Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Nov. 2, 1929.
  4. The Anatomist. Drama, 3 acts. Published 1931. Produced Edinburgh, Lyceum Theatre, July 6, 1930; London, Westminster Theatre, Oct. 7, 1931.
  5. The Girl Who Did Not Want to Go to Kuala Lumpur. Comedy, 3 acts. Produced Glasgow, Lyric Theatre (Scottish National Players), November, 1930.
  6. Tobias and the Angel. Comedy, 3 acts. Published 1931. Produced Cambridge, Festival Theatre, Nov. 20, 1930.
  7. The Pardoner's Tale. Morality, 1 act. Published 1930. Based on Geoffrey Chaucer's tale.
  8. The Dancing Bear. Comedy, 3 acts. Produced Glasgow, Lyric Theatre (Scottish National Players), Feb. 2, 1931.
  9. The Amazed Evangelist. Comedy, 1 act. Published 1931. Produced London, Westminster Theatre, Dec. 12, 1932.
  10. Jonah and the Whale. Play, prologue and 3 acts. Produced London, Westminster Theatre, Dec. 12, 1932.
  11. A Sleeping Clergyman. Play, 2 acts. Produced Malvern, Festival Theatre, July 29, 1933.
  12. Marriage Is No Joke. Melodrama, 2 acts. Produced Glasgow, King's Theatre, January, 1934; London, Globe Theatre, Feb. 6, 1934.
  13. Colonel Witherspoon, or The Fourth Way of Greatness. Comedy, 3 acts. Published 1934. Produced Glasgow, Lyric Theatre (Scottish National Players), Mar. 23, 1934.
  14. (With Claude Gurney). Mary Reed. Play, 3 acts. Produced London, His Majesty's Theatre, Nov. 21, 1934.
  15. The Black Eye. Comedy, 2 acts. Published 1935. Produced London, Shaftesbury Theatre, October, 1935.
  16. (Adaptation). Storm in a Teacup. Play. Produced London, Royalty Theatre, Feb. 5, 1936. Based on Bruno Frank's Sturm in Wasserglas.
  17. Susannah and the Elders. Play, 3 acts. Produced London, Duke of York's Theatre, Oct. 31, 1937.
  18. The King of Nowhere. Play, 3 acts. Published 1938. Produced London, Old Vic, Mar. 15, 1938.
  19. Babes in the Wood. Quiet farce, 2 acts. Published 1938. Produced London, Embassy Theatre, June 13, 1938.
  20. The Last Trump. Play, 2 acts. Published 1938. Produced Malvern, Festival Theatre, Aug. 5, 1938; London, Duke of York's Theatre, Sept. 13, 1938.
  21. The Kitchen Comedy. Radio play, 1 act. Produced Glasgow, British Broadcasting Corporation, Nov. 18, 1938.
  22. The Letter Box Rattles. Play. Published 1938.
  23. What Say They? Play, 2 acts. Produced Malvern, Festival Theatre, Aug. 7, 1939.
  24. The Sign of the Prophet Jonah. Radio play. Produced British Broadcasting Corporation, 1942. Version of Jonah and the Whale.
  25. The Dragon and the Dove or How the Hermit Abraham Fought the Devil for His Niece. Play, 2 acts. Produced Glasgow, Lyric Theatre, August, 1942; London, Arts Theatre, Mar. 9, 1943.
  26. Jonah 3. Play. Produced Manchester, November, 1942. Revised version of Jonah and the Whale.
  27. Holy Isle. Play, 3 acts. Produced London, Arts Theatre, Dec. 11, 1942.
  28. A Change for the Worse. Play. Produced London, Arts Theatre, Mar. 9, 1943.
  29. Mr. Bolfry. Play, 4 scenes. Produced London, Westminster Theatre, Aug. 3, 1943.
  30. It Depends What You Mean. Play, 3 acts. Published 1949. Produced London, Westminster Theatre, Oct. 12, 1944.
  31. The Forrigan Reel. Ballad opera, 2 acts. Published 1949. Produced London, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Oct. 24, 1945.
  32. Lancelot. Play, 2 acts. Published 1945.
  33. Paradise Enow. Play, 1 act. Published 1945.
  34. Dr. Angelus. Play, 3 acts. Published 1949. Produced Edinburgh, June 23, 1947; London, Phoenix Theatre, July 30, 1947.
  35. John Knox. Play, 3 acts. Published 1949. Produced Glasgow, Citizens' Theatre, Aug. 18, 1947.
  36. Gog and Magog. Play. Produced London, Arts Theatre, December, 1948.
  37. Daphne Laureola. Play, 4 acts. Published 1949. Produced London, Wyndham's Theatre, Mar. 23, 1949.
  38. The Golden Legend of Shults. Play, 3 acts. Produced Perth, Scotland, Perth Theatre, July 24, 1949.
  39. Mr. Gillie. Play, prologue and 2 acts. Published 1950. Produced Glasgow, Feb. 13, 1950; London, Garrick Theatre, Mar. 9, 1950.
  40. The Queen's Comedy. Play. Produced Edinburgh, Lyceum Theatre, Aug. 21, 1950.
  41. The Baikie Charivari or The Seven Prophets. Miracle play, 2 acts. Published 1953. Produced Glasgow, Citizens' Theatre, Oct. 6, 1952.
  42. (With Archibald Batty). Meeting at Night. Play. Produced Glasgow, Citizens' Theatre, May, 1954.
  43. The Pyrate's Den. Play.
  44. The Tragic Muse. Play.
  45. (Adaptation). The Wild Duck. Play. Based on Henrik Ibsen's Vildanden.
  46. (Adaptation). Liliom. Play. Based on Ferenc Molndfs play of the same name (1909).
  47. (Adaptation). Hedda Gabler. Play. Based on Ibsen's play of the same name.
  48. (Adaptation). The Misanthrope. Play. Based on Molière's Le Misanthrope.

CRITICISM

  1. W. Bannister, James Bridie and His Theatre, London, 1955;
  2. U. Gerber, James Bridies Dramen, Bern, 1961;
  3. G. Weales, Religion in Modern English Drama, Philadelphia, 1961;
  4. H. L. Luyben, James Bridie: Clown and Philosopher, Philadelphia 1965;
  5. M. Nentwich, Der 'schottische' Shaw; Untersuchungen zur dramtischen Werk von James Brdie, Frankfurt, 1977