National Theatre Live: London Assurance

Jun 24, 2010

2h 40m

★ 7.0

Overview

Grace has agreed to marry Sir Harcourt in return for his financial support of her family. At a house party in her father's place, Harcourt's son Charles also falls in love with Grace. When his father appears on the scene, he has to convince him that there is a case of mistaken identity and he is somebody else. Then Lady Gay Spanker, a married woman also visiting at the house, is persuaded by Charles to seduce his father and thus divert his attention from Grace. Much confusion and scheming ensues. One of the first five episodes also released on terrestrial TV on a 2009 BBC TV series titled "National Theatre Live".

Genres

Comedy

Production Companies

National Theatre

National Theatre Live: London Assurance Trailers

Cast

Charles Courtly

Paul Ready

Sir Harcourt Courtly

Simon Russell Beale

Grace Harkaway

Michelle Terry

Squire Max Harkaway

Mark Addy

Lady Gay Spanker

Fiona Shaw

Richard Dazzle

Matt Cross

Mr. Adolphus Spanker

Richard Briers

Mr. Solomon Isaacs

Junix Inocian

Servant

Prasanna Puwanarajah

Cool

Nick Sampson

Martin

Richard Frame

Pert

Maggie Service

National Theatre Live’s 2010 broadcast of Alan Bennett’s acclaimed play The Habit of Art, with Richard Griffiths, Alex Jennings, and Frances de la Tour, returns to cinemas as part of the National Theatre's 50th anniversary celebrations. Benjamin Britten, sailing uncomfortably close to the wind with his new opera, Death in Venice, seeks advice from his former collaborator and friend, W H Auden. During this imagined meeting, their first for 25 years, they are observed and interrupted by, amongst others, their future biographer and a young man from the local bus station. Alan Bennett’s play is as much about the theatre as it is about poetry or music. It looks at the unsettling desires of two difficult men, and at the ethics of biography. It reflects on growing old, on creativity and inspiration, and on persisting when all passion’s spent: ultimately, on the habit of art. One of the first five episodes also released on terrestrial TV on a 2009 BBC TV series titled "National Theatre Live".

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6.1

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0.0

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0.0

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0.0

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0.0

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