| Theatre 625
The Queen & the Welshman
10 April 1966, BBC2
25 April 1969, U.S. airing
Role: Villiers The drama tells
the tale of Katherine of France, the young widow of Henry V or
England, and her love and defiant marriage of the Welshman Owen
Tudor. Villiers is a gentleman in the service of the Duke of Gloucester. An
April 26, 1969, New York Times review called the production
"a rare treat":
Historically, the marriage founded the
Tudor line. Dramatically, it was a union rooted in deep love
reverence and respect, balanced on secrecy and menaced by
discovery. ...
Set against these two characters
(Dorothy Tutin as Katherine and Derek Godfrey as Tudor)
embodying so many fine traits, Jeremy Brett depicted the
barrenness of the human soul in the person of Villiers, a man
who wed himself to the evils of spying and betrayal. It was to
Mr. Brett's credit (and to the playwright's as well) that his
justifications for his behavior, as offering some certitude in
a world where much could be lost an many hurt, did not appear
to be simple villainy.
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