Mary's story - 11

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In popular culture


Films

* The two classic film biographies of Mary (neither of them so faithful to history as to get in the way of the story) are the 1936 Mary of Scotland starring Katharine Hepburn and Fredric March and the 1971 Mary, Queen of Scots starring Vanessa Redgrave and Nigel Davenport. One of the most significant inaccuracies in the Redgrave film is a scene in which Mary and her cousin Elizabeth I secretly met on horseback; in all their lives, the English and Scots queens never once met in person. It was announced in May 2007 that Scarlett Johansson will star in the title role of "Mary, Queen of Scots" which will be directed by John Curran.

Television

* In the BBC TV production Elizabeth R, Mary was played by Vivian Pickles. This is considered by some to be the most historically accurate portrayal of Mary during her captivity in England.
* In the ITV miniseries, Elizabeth I, the first two-hour segment partly centers around the conflict between Mary and Queen Elizabeth. Mary is portrayed by actress Barbara Flynn.
* In the 2004 BBC mini-series Gunpowder, Treason & Plot, Mary was played by French actress Clémence Poésy.


Theatre

* Mary also inspired the opera Maria Stuarda by Donizetti and the play Maria Stuart by Friedrich Schiller (a production of which opened in London's West End in 2005). The film Mary of Scotland is based on the hit Broadway play by Maxwell Anderson.

* Sarah Miles portrayed Mary Queen of Scots on Broadway and the West End in the play Vivat! Vivat! Regina! (1971) written by her husband Robert Bolt

* Martha Graham choreographed and directed the modern dance titled "Episodes" (1985) that premiered at Lincoln Centre, New York, the dance featured Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I resolving their dynastic issues over a game of tennis.

* Janet McTeer starred in the revival of the Schiller play Mary Stuart at the Apollo Theatre, London in 2005.

Poetry

In Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky's 20 sonnets to Mary Stuart (in Russian) the poet addresses her as an interlocutor.

Fiction

* Mary's story has been the subject of a number of novels, including: Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles: A Novel by Margaret George; Royal Road to Fotheringhay: The Story of Mary, Queen of Scots by Jean Plaidy; Fatal Majesty (2000) by Reay Tannahill. Mary features importantly in The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett, and in La Princesse de Clèves, set during her younger years in France.

* Author Sandra Davidson's historical romance novel ROSEFIRE includes a subplot of Mary, Queen of Scots

* In children's literature, novels on Mary, Queen of Scots include: Queen's Own Fool: A Novel of Mary Queen of Scots by Jane Yolen, The Lady of Fire and Tears by Terry Deary, and from the Royal Diaries series from Scholastic, Mary, Queen of Scots: Queen Without a Country, France, 1553 by Kathryn Lasky.

Music

* American progressive metal band Dream Theater uses a variation of the mark of Mary, Queen of Scots, as their trademark "Majesty" symbol.

* The song "Sad Song" by Lou Reed, featured in the 1973 album Berlin, references Mary in its initial verses.

Staring at my picture book
She looks like Mary, Queen of Scots
She seemed very regal to me
Just goes to show how wrong you can be

* The song "To France" by Mike Oldfield, featured in the 1984 album Discovery, references Mary in its chorus.

Never going to get to France.
Mary, Queen of Chance, will they find you?
Never going to get to France.
Could a new romance ever bind you?

* The song "Fotheringay" by The Fairport Convention, featured in the 1969 album What We Did on Our Holidays, is the story of Mary's last days in the prison of Fotheringhay Castle.

Her days of precious freedom, forfeited long before
To live such fruitless years behind a guarded door
But those days will last no more
Tomorrow, at this hour, she will be far away
Much farther than these islands, for the lonely Fotheringay


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_queen_of_scots


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