I had no idea that this performance had survived on film! Uncanny. Mac played on stage with Beerbohm Tree and knew personally many actors and managers who worked with Oscar Wilde.
I too have known this wonderful piece since the 1960s when I bought the double LP album while a music student in Manchester UK. The recording on the original pressing left a lot to be desired , but for those interested in improving the sound, it's usually a simple job to connect your laptop/tablet, etc. to a good radio or sound system that has 'audio input' sockets. You just need the right 2m or 3m wire...usually one with a 3.5mm jack on one end and two phono connectors on the other end, but check your equipment first. You might need a wire with a 3.5mm jack on both ends. These are easily found on Amazon. Having done this, you will be able to bring up the volume considerably on your radio/sound system, to make an acceptable listening level. Good luck!
Undoubtedly the greatest biographical play ever written . The story of how Micheal got the inspiration and why he wrote it is a play in itself . Not yet written. For me , what makes this play the greatest is down to Micheal telling the life of Oscar Wilde with his eyes . All acting must come not just from the soul but the eyes!! Take note actors in training .
While a college student in Nebraska during the mid-1960s, I found a long playing record of his performance at the Scott Bluff Public Library. Have not heard it since this miraculous youtube, but in all those fifty years, I never forgot MM's one-man show, which indelibly influenced my life. I still use some of the quotes from that old recording. Art really is eternal, especially in the meeting of two geniuses.
Marvelous...Here's another take on both Masters (Wilde and MacLiammoir)--I invite you to view the reel and follow and share. oscarwildetheater.wordpress.com/. Also, give the FB page a "like" and "share." facebook.com/Work-is-the-Curse-of-the-Drinking-Classes-320825098114369/
13:13 A curious new note could be oberserved in the personality of Oscar Wilde. One might say o rather fancifully if you like, that the splendid joyous pagan noonday of his sunflower and lilly were making way for the more subtle and elaborate afternoon of the green carnation. Indeed the green carnation by this time had come to stand almost as a symbol of the age...It did represent a mood rather than a movement in art or letters. A mood that was at once voluptuous, bizarre, deeply colored, langurous, ammoral, witty and deliberately artifical. Some people loved it all, a sort of open revolt against Victorian prudery. Other people found in the green carnation something faintly sinister. But whether a people approved of it or not, nobody questioned for a single moment who was the high priest of the cult of the green carnation. And one of his poems written a little before he had invented what he had called that magnificent flower...
Hi Babs, if you plug your laptop/computer into your TV with a HDMI cable it will work. You can then turn the sound up as if you were watching TV normally. Otherwise, try using an external speaker, which you can hook up to your PC. The sound is scratchy, it's an old recording, but I hooked it up to my TV and could hear it very well. I hope this helps; I see you've made a few comments about the sound.
+Tanya Davis...My first experience of Michael was when I was a 7 year old and my parents brazened me into a restricted performance of "Tom Jones" in about 1964. His voice and intonation stayed with me for decades before I figured out who he was (AND influenced me forever). Be well! facebook.com/Work-is-the-Curse-of-the-Drinking-Classes-320825098114369/ oscarwildetheater.wordpress.com/
Hi Tanya , Micheal worked with my Grandparents at the Abbey Theatre. My Grandmother Maire Ni Dhomhnaill was great friends with Micheal . My god the stories I can tell you of My Grandfather Geoffrey Golden and Micheal .
I worked with him at the Gate in the early 70's, and I will never forget him. He was magnificent, that voice, his stage presence, his truly immense knowledge. I have never met his equal since.
i thought i was going mad....i KNEW id seen this and not dreamt it up years and years ago, but just could not find it no matter what search words i used.....i love and have missed this so much...ty
Michael MacLiammoir brought his show to New Zealand in 1964, and my High School English teacher took us to see him perform it at the Lower Hutt Civic Theatre. It made an unforgettable impact on me. So good to see it again - thank you for uploading!
This is an absolute masterpiece. Perhaps the greatest one man play of all time, certainly the greatest performance for a one many play.
Is it possible, please, to give me the names on the closing credits (they are cut here)
As a young, blond, longhaired student I was introduced to Michael, He kissed me full on the lips - I didn't wash my face for a week!
I saw this at The Gate in Dublin in 1968 with MacLiammoir
Thank you ., god bless michael xx
Orga Seanchai Na H'Eireann
That pause at 1:10:23, and the proceeding delivery... just masterful!
I had no idea that this performance had survived on film! Uncanny. Mac played on stage with Beerbohm Tree and knew personally many actors and managers who worked with Oscar Wilde.
A masterpiece -- a pure treasure -- thank you so much for posting -- was looking for it for years
How can I get this louder so I can hear Michael better?
BRAVO again...
Is this the BBC or RTE version, please? Thanks for this great upload :)
Wonderful. Many thanks
Thank you - I had lost my vhs copy of this recorded from the BBC - a masterpiece
cannot hear this
Sadly, the sound is too poor for me to try to stick out finishing the video.
i mean, can you get any gayer?
I too have known this wonderful piece since the 1960s when I bought the double LP album while a music student in Manchester UK. The recording on the original pressing left a lot to be desired , but for those interested in improving the sound, it's usually a simple job to connect your laptop/tablet, etc. to a good radio or sound system that has 'audio input' sockets. You just need the right 2m or 3m wire...usually one with a 3.5mm jack on one end and two phono connectors on the other end, but check your equipment first. You might need a wire with a 3.5mm jack on both ends. These are easily found on Amazon. Having done this, you will be able to bring up the volume considerably on your radio/sound system, to make an acceptable listening level. Good luck!
How wonderful! I had no idea footage of this existed. Thank you for sharing.
si sad it just is too quiet
Undoubtedly the greatest biographical play ever written . The story of how Micheal got the inspiration and why he wrote it is a play in itself . Not yet written. For me , what makes this play the greatest is down to Micheal telling the life of Oscar Wilde with his eyes . All acting must come not just from the soul but the eyes!! Take note actors in training .
While a college student in Nebraska during the mid-1960s, I found a long playing record of his performance at the Scott Bluff Public Library. Have not heard it since this miraculous youtube, but in all those fifty years, I never forgot MM's one-man show, which indelibly influenced my life. I still use some of the quotes from that old recording. Art really is eternal, especially in the meeting of two geniuses.
Marvelous...Here's another take on both Masters (Wilde and MacLiammoir)--I invite you to view the reel and follow and share. oscarwildetheater.wordpress.com/. Also, give the FB page a "like" and "share." facebook.com/Work-is-the-Curse-of-the-Drinking-Classes-320825098114369/
13:13 A curious new note could be oberserved in the personality of Oscar Wilde. One might say o rather fancifully if you like, that the splendid joyous pagan noonday of his sunflower and lilly were making way for the more subtle and elaborate afternoon of the green carnation. Indeed the green carnation by this time had come to stand almost as a symbol of the age...It did represent a mood rather than a movement in art or letters. A mood that was at once voluptuous, bizarre, deeply colored, langurous, ammoral, witty and deliberately artifical. Some people loved it all, a sort of open revolt against Victorian prudery. Other people found in the green carnation something faintly sinister. But whether a people approved of it or not, nobody questioned for a single moment who was the high priest of the cult of the green carnation. And one of his poems written a little before he had invented what he had called that magnificent flower...
sadly I cannot hear this
Hi Babs, if you plug your laptop/computer into your TV with a HDMI cable it will work. You can then turn the sound up as if you were watching TV normally. Otherwise, try using an external speaker, which you can hook up to your PC. The sound is scratchy, it's an old recording, but I hooked it up to my TV and could hear it very well. I hope this helps; I see you've made a few comments about the sound.
I never in my life thought I would be able to see this. Thank you, oh, thank you.
This is my great uncle. :) I'm very happy to come across this on UA-cam.
+Tanya Davis...My first experience of Michael was when I was a 7 year old and my parents brazened me into a restricted performance of "Tom Jones" in about 1964. His voice and intonation stayed with me for decades before I figured out who he was (AND influenced me forever). Be well! facebook.com/Work-is-the-Curse-of-the-Drinking-Classes-320825098114369/ oscarwildetheater.wordpress.com/
Hi Tanya , Micheal worked with my Grandparents at the Abbey Theatre. My Grandmother Maire Ni Dhomhnaill was great friends with Micheal . My god the stories I can tell you of My Grandfather Geoffrey Golden and Micheal .
how wonderful for you.
would love to hear them!!!
I worked with him at the Gate in the early 70's, and I will never forget him. He was magnificent, that voice, his stage presence, his truly immense knowledge. I have never met his equal since.
i thought i was going mad....i KNEW id seen this and not dreamt it up years and years ago, but just could not find it no matter what search words i used.....i love and have missed this so much...ty
Have been trying to get hold of this for the last 20 odd years!! Many thanks for uploading. They don't make ' em like this anymore!!!!
Michael MacLiammoir brought his show to New Zealand in 1964, and my High School English teacher took us to see him perform it at the Lower Hutt Civic Theatre. It made an unforgettable impact on me. So good to see it again - thank you for uploading!
u lucky lucky guy
Thank you so much for this rare and wonderful video of a great performance.