For Services Rendered
Encyclopedia
For Services Rendered is a play by Somerset Maugham. First performed in London in 1932, the play is about the effects of World War I
on an English family.
The first performance was on 1 November 1932 in London's West End, at what was then known as the Globe Theatre
(later renamed the Gielgud Theatre). The cast was Flora Robson
, Cedric Hardwicke
, C. V. France and Ralph Richardson
. The director was Barry Jackson. The play's run at the Globe finished on 17 December 1932, and it transferred to the Queen's Theatre
from 2 January 1933.
The anti-war
message was not popular with audiences, and the play only ran for 78 performances. The play is mentioned in the context of other plays inspired by the Great War in 'A Wounded Stage: Drama and World War I', a 2006 book chapter by Mary Luckhurst
, and in British Theatre between the Wars, 1918-1939 (2000) by Clive Barker. In the latter, Barker calls the play a "masterpiece of textured dramaturgy", while noting that it was a "categorical failure". For Services Rendered is compared to contemporary plays in Modern British Drama: The Twentieth Century (2002) by Christopher D. Innes, where Innes says the play was "a counterblast to Noel Coward's Cavalcade
".
One of the earliest revivals of this play was the performances in 1946 at the New Lindsey Theatre in London, directed by Peter Cotes
. A TV adaptation (from Granada Television
, directed by Henry Kaplan
) was broadcast in 1959. The later revivals of this play include performances at the Northcott Theatre
in 1974, performances at the Royal National Theatre
in London in 1979, and performances at the Old Vic Theatre in London in 1993. The 1993 revival, initially performed at the Salisbury Playhouse
, was presented by Deborah Paige, and the cast included Sylvia Syms
and Jeffrey Segal
. A more recent revival was performed at the Watermill Theatre
in Berkshire in 2007.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
on an English family.
The first performance was on 1 November 1932 in London's West End, at what was then known as the Globe Theatre
Gielgud Theatre
The Gielgud Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, London, at the corner of Rupert Street. The house currently has 889 seats on three levels.-History:...
(later renamed the Gielgud Theatre). The cast was Flora Robson
Flora Robson
Dame Flora McKenzie Robson DBE was an English actress, renowned as a character actress, who played roles ranging from queens to villainesses.-Early life:...
, Cedric Hardwicke
Cedric Hardwicke
Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke was a noted English stage and film actor whose career spanned nearly fifty years...
, C. V. France and Ralph Richardson
Ralph Richardson
Sir Ralph David Richardson was an English actor, one of a group of theatrical knights of the mid-20th century who, though more closely associated with the stage, also appeared in several classic films....
. The director was Barry Jackson. The play's run at the Globe finished on 17 December 1932, and it transferred to the Queen's Theatre
Queen's Theatre
The Queen's Theatre is a West End theatre located in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. It opened on 8 October 1907 as a twin to the neighbouring Gielgud Theatre which opened ten months earlier. Both theatres were designed by W.G.R...
from 2 January 1933.
The anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
message was not popular with audiences, and the play only ran for 78 performances. The play is mentioned in the context of other plays inspired by the Great War in 'A Wounded Stage: Drama and World War I', a 2006 book chapter by Mary Luckhurst
Mary Luckhurst
Mary Luckhurst is Professor in Modern Drama at the University of York. She is also a playwright and director.- Biography :Luckhurst was educated at New Hall, Cambridge, reading French and German, and the London School of Economics...
, and in British Theatre between the Wars, 1918-1939 (2000) by Clive Barker. In the latter, Barker calls the play a "masterpiece of textured dramaturgy", while noting that it was a "categorical failure". For Services Rendered is compared to contemporary plays in Modern British Drama: The Twentieth Century (2002) by Christopher D. Innes, where Innes says the play was "a counterblast to Noel Coward's Cavalcade
Cavalcade (play)
Cavalcade is a play by Noël Coward. It focuses on three decades in the life of the Marryotts, a quintessential British family, and their servants, beginning at the start of the 20th century and ending on New Year's Eve in 1929....
".
One of the earliest revivals of this play was the performances in 1946 at the New Lindsey Theatre in London, directed by Peter Cotes
Peter Cotes
Peter Cotes was an English director, producer, actor, writer and production manager.Cotes was born as Sydney Boulting in Maidenhead, Berkshire. His twin brothers John and Roy Boulting became noted film makers. He began as an actor, before concentrating on theatre production...
. A TV adaptation (from Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, directed by Henry Kaplan
Henry Kaplan
Henry Kaplan was a television director known for his works on Dark Shadows, Ryan's Hope, The Doctors and All My Children. He also directed seven episodes of the sitcom The Adventures of Aggie.- External links :...
) was broadcast in 1959. The later revivals of this play include performances at the Northcott Theatre
Northcott Theatre
The Northcott Theatre is a theatre situated on the Streatham Campus of the University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, England.-History:The Northcott is the seventh building in Exeter to be used as a theatre....
in 1974, performances at the Royal National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
in London in 1979, and performances at the Old Vic Theatre in London in 1993. The 1993 revival, initially performed at the Salisbury Playhouse
Salisbury Playhouse
Salisbury Playhouse is a theatre in the county of Wiltshire, it was built in 1976 and has two theatre spaces – the Main House and Salberg Studio ....
, was presented by Deborah Paige, and the cast included Sylvia Syms
Sylvia Syms
Sylvia M. L. Syms OBE is a British actress. She is probably best known for her roles in the films Woman in a Dressing Gown , Ice-Cold in Alex , No Trees in the Street , Victim and The Tamarind Seed...
and Jeffrey Segal
Jeffrey Segal
Jeffrey Segal is a British actor.He made his first screen appearance, as an extra, in the film Jud Süß .From the early 1960s onwards he appeared in many British TV series, notably Callan, Z-Cars, The Protectors, Terry and June, The Pallisers and Dad's Army.He played the part of 'Arthur Perkins'...
. A more recent revival was performed at the Watermill Theatre
Watermill Theatre
The Watermill Theatre is an award -winning, professional repertory theatre with charitable status. It is a converted watermill with gardens beside the River Lambourn, in Bagnor, near Newbury, Berkshire, England...
in Berkshire in 2007.