Elliot\u27s play about the murder of Thomas a Becket was performed at John Carroll University in February of 1937.https://collected.jcu.edu/plays/1113/thumbnail.jp

Elliot, T. S.

English

John Carroll University

John Carroll UniversityCarroll CollectedTheatre Productions Communication & Theatre Arts2-6-1937Murder in the CathedralT. S. ElliotFollow this and additional works at: http://collected.jcu.edu/playsThis Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication & Theatre Arts at Carroll Collected. It has been accepted for inclusion inTheatre Productions by an authorized administrator of Carroll Collected. For more information, please contact connell@jcu.edu.Recommended CitationElliot, T. S., "Murder in the Cathedral" (1937). Theatre Productions. 115.http://collected.jcu.edu/plays/115The Little Theatre Society John Carroll University University Heights, Ohio A WORD ABOUT THE PLAY By THOMAS D. EWING, S.J. The action in the play cen t ers in the Cathedral of Canterbury in England, in the year 1170. I t was during the reign of Henry II. and Engla nd was still Catholic. But already the forces were at work which wer e to culminate in the estab lishment of th e Church of England. In fact , the event depicted in the play was one of th e minor climaxes in the progression towards the Protestant R evolt, and portrays th e essentia l conflict bet.,\·een th e nationalistic aims of the English monarchy, subor-dinating all things to the crown, and the efforts of the Catholic Church to maintain intact its ancient jurisdiction. The principa l character in the play is Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, known to history as Thomas a Becket. In 1155 Henry made him Chancellor of the realm. Eight years lat er, in 1163, through the king's influence he was made Arch-bishop of Canterbu ry. Henry thought that in this way the con trol of the spiri tual as well as the temporal elemen t s in his realm could be brought under royal juris-diction. Henry , however, was to be sad ly disappointed, for a Becket, refusing to conc ur in the schemes of his monarch, resigned the chance llorship and threw himself whole-heartedly into his ecc lesiastical duties. Furthermore, the new archb ish op en-deared himself to the common people wh en he opposed a heavy tax that was occa-siona lly levied on the kingdom. But the chief cause of controversy between them was the question of the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts. The breach thus effect-ed between them was, however, temporarily healed when a Becket agreed to abide by the ancient cus toms of the realm. Later, however, when a li st of these was drawn up in a council of the feudal barons meeting at Clarendon, it was found that they denied many of the ancient and clearly known rights of the Church. Thomas <i Becket refused to affix his seal to this document, known in history as the Constitution of Clarendon, and the king flew into a rage. The Archbishop escap~d condemnation by the king's court only by appealing his cause to the pope, and crossed over to France to make his appea l in person. H e remained in France, in virtual exile, for sev<:n years, for though the dispute was decided in his favor, Henry was obdurate. Only the threat of an interdict won the king to a reconciliation, and the Archbishop returned to England. Here the play opens. Thomas a B ecke t brings with him letters of excommuni-cation against three of the bishops of the king's party, for having usurped his function as Archbishop of CanterLury in crowning Henry's son. He had intended suppressing the letters, but the bishops themselves forced their publication. When news of this reached Henry in Normandy, he became almost in sane in his rage. "Of the cowards who cat my bread," he exclaimed, ''is there not 011e who will free me from this turbulent priest?" Four knighb immediat ely departed, sworn to kill the prelate. They found him in his cathedral church, to which he had retired when informed of their design, awaiting them bdorc an altar. Here, facing his assassins and with a prayer on his lips, he sank beneath their weapons. Through the play we see the tide of feeling ri:,mg against the Archbishop, reaching its flood in the murder oi a Becket. Then th e feeling ebb;,'"and the work ends on the note of despair which the peop le feel because they realize that a crime has been done not only against man, but abo agains t God and His Church. c F I ' ( I< c 1 T c s L p p ngland, in I Catholic. 1b li shmcn t Jn e of th e rtrays th e ily, subor -) maintain anterbury, llor of the ade Arch-e spiritual oyal juris-to concur w himse lf l ishop en-was occa-veen them Jus effect-d to abide the feudal ~e ancient affix his 1, and the ng's court make his he dispute !rdict won lCOmmu m-;urped his :l intended m. When his rage. l wi ll free orn to kill ad retir ed fac ing his .rchbishop, I the work at a crime h. THE LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY of .T ohn Carroll University presenb its ver sion of "Murder in the Cathedral" By T. S. ELLIOT University Auditorium Feb. 6th and 7th, 1937 Under the direction of Carl Freidel CAST Chorus of Men o! Canterbury .............. ... .. .. Richard Leusch, Joseph Longo, James Breslin, John Smith, Francis Marquard Priests o f the Cathedral. ............................. .Vincent F ornes, William Brennan, Jack Lancaster Herald ................................................................. Paul Cassidy Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury .......... . Theron Eddy Ten1pters .......................................................... James Grant, Frank Humphrey, Paul Minarik, Thomas Victory Kn ights ............................................................... Henry Erhardt, James McCrystal, Charles Ca vagna, Robert Yeager Choir .................................................................... Member of the J. C. U. Glee Club This play is produced by special arrangement with Harcourt, Brace and Company, New York Scenes Act One ....................................... .The Archbishop's Study. Inter lude ........... ......... ... ..... ... ... ....... .. . Canterbury Cathedral I TERMISSIO OF TEN MINUTES Act Two, Scene One .................. The Archbishop's Study Scene Two ...................... Canterbury Cathedral The scenery fo r th e play was built by Sam Kleinman and painted by R. L. Fritzinger. Committees: Costumes .. ....... ............. .. ....... ......... .... ...... ................... .... .............. . Clayton Lang-e Stage .... .......... .. ........................... ........... ............... .. ... ....... ... .. John English, Mgr., Charles Br ennan, William Duffin, James Moraghan Lighting .............................................. Edward McCarthy, Mgr., Gene Kirby Publicity .......................... ..... ... .......... William McMahon, Mgr., Paul Minarik Patrons ..... ... ............................. ... .. .. William Duffin, Mgr., Charles Brennan, David Ferrie, Paul Flannery, Gene Kirby Production Manager .......................... ....... ... Clayton Lange Moderator ... ............................. Rev. Wm. ] . Murphy, S.J. PATRONS Most Rev. Jo;eph Schrembs, S.T.D., LL.D. Most Rev. James A. McFadden, S.T.D. Rt. Rev. Msgr. John P. Treacy Rev. John F . Madigan Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jos eph N. Trivisono Very Rev. Vincent B. Balmat, S.T.D. Very Rev. Benedict] . Rodman, S.J. Rev. Edward J. Bracken , S.J. Rev. Francis J . Meyer, S.J . Rev. Joseph M. Milet , S.J. Rev. Thomas P . Mulligan Rev. E. J . Murphy Rev. James O'Brien Rev. William P. Hagerty, S.J. Rev. Richard J. Patterson Rev. Patrick Patton Rev. John J. Fleming Rev. Edward A. Reilly Rev. James M. Gallagher Rev. Francis P. Johns, S.T.D. Rev. William J. Keefe Rev. Andrew G. Troy, S.T.D. Rev. Anthony B. Stuber Rev. Richard P. Walsh Rev. Edward A. Kickel Mrs. Marie R. Bartunek Mr. & Mrs. C. W. Brennan Mr. & Mrs. W. A. Breslin Mr. & Mrs. Gee. W. Brown Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Carlin ~Ir. & Mrs. E. J . Hoban ~[r. Raymond W. Hoover ~trs. Helen K. Hummel J. C. U. "C" Club J. C. U. Freshman Class Mr. W. D. Connors ). C. U. Junior Class Mr. & Mrs. T. J. Conway j. C. U. Junior Guild Dr. & Mrs. :\. T. Donahue ). C. U. Senior Class Mr. & Mrs. 1\ . W. Duffin j. C. U. Senior Guild Mr. & Mrs. H. ) . Erhardt ). C. U. Sophomore Class Dr. James L. Faragher J. C. U. Student Union Mr. & Mrs. ]. A. Farrell ~fr. & Mrs. E. J. Killeen Mr. & Mrs.]. T. Feighan :.Jr. & Mrs. E. A. Kilroy Mr. & Mrs.]. H. Ferrie Dr. & Mrs . A. J. Kmieck Dr. & Mrs. Wm. J. Fornes Dr. & Mrs. P . J. Kmieck Mr. & Mrs. C. G. Frantz :.h. Boniface Kociecki A Friend .Mr. & Mrs. John Kolk A Fril!nd Dr. & Mrs. J. J. Kotershall A Friwd Mr. & Mrs. Joseph S. Kral Mr. & Mrs. L. Gaertner Mr. & Mrs. F. Kuzell Mr. P. A. Geier Mr. & Mrs.J.J.Laughlin.Jr. Miss Ida Grasselli Mr. & Mrs. J. V. Madigan Miss Josphine Grasselli Mr. & Mrs. H. McCaffery Mr. & Mrs. H. Gwilym Mr. & Mrs.A.D.McCarrens Mr. & Mrs. F. E . Hainen Dr. & Mrs. J. B. Morgan Mr. & Mrs. H. A. Hanna Mrs. H. E. Murray Mr. & Mrs. A.F. Heffernan Mr. & Mrs. H. T. Nolan Mr. & Mrs. H. Hildebrandt Mr. & Mrs . .M.F.O'Donnell Mr. & Mrs. H. O'Neill Mr. & Mrs. Steve O'Neill Mr. & Mrs. W. F. O'Neill Mr. & Mrs. ]. A. Parnin Mr. & Mrs. J. A. Pfahl Dr. & Mrs. H. B. Phelan ~lr. & Mrs. Louis Seltzer Or. A. 0. Sibila Mr. & Mrs. ]. ]. Shea Mr. & Mrs. R. N. Sheehan .Mr. & .tl[ rs. J. A. Smith :.1 r. & J\irs. C. E. Stcpanik Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Traverse ~dr. & Mrs. H. Trenkamp ~lr. John C. \Vasmer J\lr. & Mrs.R.W.G.\Vilson Dr. & Mrs. F. C. Yeager Mr. & Mrs. E . Zannoni Blepp-Coombs Co. Cannon Tailoring Co. Cleveland Import Co. Corrigan Bros. Moving Co. Harrington Electric Co. The Horten Dairy James Kilbane & Co. McGorray Bros. F. G. Nickels & Son, Inc. Rock-Daoust Lumber Co. H. N. White Co. 

Murder in the Cathedral

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Murder in the Cathedral

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