The Corn Is Green

For other uses, see The Corn Is Green (disambiguation).

The Corn Is Green is a semi-autobiographical play by Emlyn Williams.

At its core is L. C. Moffat, a strong-willed English school teacher working in a small poverty-stricken coal mining town in the late 19th century. After struggling to win the local Welsh miners over to her English ways, an illiterate teenager, by the name of Morgan Evans eventually graduates with honors.

The play premiered in London at the Duchess Theatre in 1938 with Williams portraying Morgan Evans.

The first Broadway production, directed by Herman Shumlin, opened on November 26, 1940 at the National Theatre and later transferred to the Royal Theatre, running a total of 477 performances. The cast included Ethel Barrymore, Rhys Williams, Mildred Dunnock, and Richard Waring. On May 3, 1943, a revival with Barrymore again in the lead opened at the Martin Beck Theatre, where it ran for 56 performances.

In 1945, a film adaptation was made, with Bette Davis (herself of Welsh descent) as Moffat. In the late 1970s, Davis returned to the role in a musical stage adaptation that proved to be a disaster. The setting was changed to the American South, with the young man transformed into an African-American college student (portrayed by Dorian Harewood) ignoring his studies in favor of football. It was Miss Moffat's responsibility to help him raise his grades so he can remain on the team. At this point in her life, Davis was far too old for the role and was unable to carry a tune. When the pre-Broadway run opened in Boston, the show was derided by the critics, and it underwent major changes before moving to Philadelphia. There audiences greeted it with catcalls, and it closed before its opening night, never making it to Broadway.

A 1979 made-for-television movie, directed by George Cukor and starring Katharine Hepburn, was filmed on location in Wales.

After 21 previews, another Broadway revival, directed by Vivian Matalon, opened on August 22, 1983, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. In a case of color-blind casting, Cicely Tyson portrayed Miss Moffat, with Peter Gallagher, Marge Redmond, and Mia Dillon in supporting roles. Critics found the play hopelessly dated, and it ran for only 32 performances.

In 1985, however, the play enjoyed a successful revival at the Old Vic Theatre, London, starring Deborah Kerr.

External links

• The Corn Is Green at the Internet Broadway Database
• complete text of play