Sam Thompson V Orson Welles - the rumble in Dublin
Just to follow on from my last blog, it seems that Belfast playwright Sam Thompson idolised Orson Welles.
So much so that when he heard that Welles was in Dublin at the same time as he was, (Thompson'sÌý"Over the Bridge" transferred to Dublin from Belfast in 1960,ÌýWelles wasÌýplayingÌýFalstaff in Chimes at MidnightÌýat the Gaiety) he said he was going to meet his hero.
According toÌýJimmy Ellis, the two of them got tickets to goÌýto a matinee . AfterwardsÌý theyÌýasked to see the great man butÌýWelles wouldn't come out of his dressing room.
Cut to a drinking establishment in Dublin later that same night. Thompson and Ellis are there. Welles is there too, with his friend the Irish theatre impressario Hilton Edwards.
Somehow a strong exchange of words between Sam and Orson kicks off,Ìýwhich involves Ellis having to physically force himself between the two.ÌýNo punches are thrown,Ìýbut Jimmy said that he and Thompson were pushed across the roomÌýby the sheer bulk of the man.
Afterwards Thompson said that even though Welles had really annoyed him he just couldn't bring himself toÌýhit his idol.ÌýÌý
Comment number 1.
At 29th Jan 2010, mybad wrote:Sorry, me again - I wonder whether this incident has anything to do with the dreadful reception given Welles' production by the Belfast press. Also, there is a beguiling rumour that, while Welles was playing at the Grand Opera House, two reels from his life-long film project, Don Quixote, were stolen from his baggage, and there was quite a chase to recover them.
;)
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Comment number 2.
At 31st Jan 2010, Marie-Louise Muir wrote:Must ask about this too. that's an incredible story. thanks!!
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