Dame Judith Anderson; on Medea and Robinson Jeffers - Rhapsody & Requiem (1967)

[@medeajerdana]

The stunning thing about her recollection here of Medea's opening night, when Jeffers had attended, is how much emphasis Anderson puts on the love given to Jeffers by the audience-- almost to separate herself from this story. One thing Anderson does not mention is how she received an unbelievable Thirteen(!) curtain calls herself, before the audience began chanting "Author! Author! Author!" for Jeffers. She speaks so highly and sincerely of her dear friend's modesty-- while at the same time demonstrating her own. Magnificent artists, both of them.

[@jubalcalif9100]

So well said and so well put ! Thank you for sharing !

[@rainespells1273]

I was late! But I am back once again. The story about Jeffers blowing the kisses back is so sweet lol and the staging of Tower Beyond Tragedy sounds wild. Also obsessed with the shirt she’s wearing! And the slideshow at the end. I’ve never seen the one where she’s hugging the kids. Thanks for uploading, Rachel!

[@medeajerdana]

You've welcome! :>)

[@mistersmith1883]

I thought she said tabby on tragedy... So I looked in comments and find the truth

[@rainespells1273]

Oh! Omg! This is the treat! I think I’ve seen this docu or at least the bit where she talks. But I don’t even remember so it’s gonna be great to watch it again on here :)

[@mistersmith1883]

She wanted him to say no tho? Lol

[@medeajerdana]

Oh, it was something of a bluff; first she knew it was a selfish thing to ask of him. But as well, Judith was very keen on performing Jeffers' other Greek adaptation, The Tower Beyond Tragedy-- and she had been hoping to convince the producer to stage it. She was partially hoping she could get Jeffers to help her convince the producer of TBT, even though she did also wish to play Medea, but Jeffers was too inspired by the idea and immediately got to work on it, dedicating it in her name. Of course it was a tremendous success, and in the end Anderson did also get to perform Tower Beyond Tragedy properly too, in 1950, although it never drew the same numbers to the modest but beautiful Carmel Theatre where it was done.

[@mistersmith1883]

@@medeajerdana interesting 🤔 that's what I also thought...