A Passage to India (play)
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| A Passage to India | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Santha Rama Rau |
| Date premiered | 1960 |
| Place premiered | Oxford Playhouse |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Period |
| Setting | India |
A Passage to India is a stage play written by Indian-American playwright Santha Rama Rau (1923–2009), based on E.M. Forster's 1924 novel of the same name.[1]
The play begins with two English women, Mrs. Moore and Adela Quested. They travel to 1920s India, where Mrs. Moore's son, Ronny, is working. Ronny is supposed to be engaged to Adela. The women hope to experience India while they are there. Adela and Ronny are unsure if they are meant to be together. While on a hike led by Dr. Aziz, Adela is attacked in the Marabar Caves. She assumes it was Dr. Aziz, but later while testifying in court, which becomes a media sensation, she realizes Dr. Aziz is not the person who attacked her. Dr. Aziz brings up the racial tensions he feels between the English and the Indians.[2]
Historical casting
| Character | 1960 West End cast | 1962 Broadway cast | 1965 Television cast | 1984 Film cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs. Moore | Enid Lorimer | Gladys Cooper | Sybil Thorndike | Peggy Ashcroft |
| Adela Quested | Dilys Hamlett | Anne Meacham | Virginia McKenna | Judy Davis |
| Dr. Aziz | Zia Mohyeddin | Victor Banerjee | ||
Background
In the early 1950s, the play's creator, Santha Rama Rau, had dinner one evening with producer Cheryl Crawford. Crawford remarked to Rau that there had never been a distinguished play on Broadway before that dealt with India. This conversation brought up the E.M. Forster novel that was first published in 1924, titled A Passage to India. Rau mentioned to Crawford the possibility of her adapting the novel for the stage. In 1957, Rau met with Forster and presented him with a copy of her working script. Forster gave his blessing for her to move forward with the production and gave her several suggestions for changes in the script.[3]