Disraeli is a play by the British writer Louis N. Parker. The comedy with dramatic overtones has four acts and four settings, with a large cast, and moderate pacing. It is a fictional depiction of Benjamin Disraeli's life around 1875, when he arranged the purchase of the Suez Canal. It also contains dual love stories: Disraeli and his wife, and a young couple.
The play was first produced by Liebler & Company, staged by Hugh Ford, with sets by Gates & Morange. It opened January 1911 in Montreal, was engaged in Chicago from February through April 1911, and had its Broadway première in September 1911. Its first season on Broadway ran through May 1912.
The play was a popular success for Arliss, and developed a loyal following. It became Arliss' signature role and he was strongly identified with it in popular culture. For Liebler & Company it represented a financial success, earning over $500,000.
Characters Other than Disraeli and his wife, titled characters and their estates are fictional. Characters are listed in order of appearance within their scope.
Lead Clarissa, Lady Pevensey is 19, the intelligent and spirited youngest daughter of the Duke of Glastonbury. Benjamin Disraeli is the prime minister of Great Britain, whose wife Mary calls him "Dizzy". Supporting Duke of Glastonbury is a cabinet member who lives at a fictional residence in a real town. Duchess of Glastonbury called Belinda, is the humorless, rigid, and bigoted wife of the Duke. Charles, Vicount Deeford is 25, heir to the Duke of Dunelm, self-absorbed, idealistic, and a suitor for Clarissa. Mrs. Noel Travers called Agatha, is a charming young woman full of sly asides, a pursuer of political secrets. Lady Beaconsfield is the older wealthy wife of Disraeli, a lively and engaging woman in declining health.Her presence in this play is an historical liberty by the author, as she died three years before the events depicted. Sir Michael Probert is Governor of the Bank of England.This was a fictional character not drawn from either of the two men who held that position during 1875. Hugh Meyers is a Jewish financier, who is willing to aid Disraeli's plans for buying the Suez Canal. Featured Adolphus, Vicount Cudworth is a son-in-law of the Duke and Duchess, called Dolly by his wife. Lady Cudworth called Ermyntrude, is a daughter of the Duke and Duchess, and wife of Adolphus. Lord Brooke is a son-in-law to the Duke and Duchess, has a strong lisp, and lives at Brooke Hill. Lady Brooke called Hildagarde, is a daughter of the Duke and Duchess, wife to Lord Brooke. Butler is the Duke of Glastonbury's butler. Mr. Tearle is Disraeli's clerk at Downing Street. Lumley Foljambe is a new assistant in Disraeli's Downing Street office, in league with Mrs. Travers. Bascot is Disraeli's butler, discreet and solicitous of his appearance and health. Potter is Disraeli's gardener, opposed to his master's keeping of peacocks. Flooks is a rural postman, who brings official mail in a locked bag to Disraeli's estate. Bit Players
Footman Diplomats Military attachés British officers Liveried servants Lords and Ladies
Synopsis In 1875, the British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli attempts to gain ownership of the Suez Canal, to secure Britain's route to India and to legitimize Queen Victoria's claim to be Empress of India. He must secure financing to do so, while thwarting a pair of Russian spies. Disraeli has to contend with prejudice from some characters because of his Jewish parentage, while Lady Beaconsfield is snubbed for having married a converted Jew. Parker gave no indication of the time between acts, but from exposition in each it must be several weeks at the minimum.
Act I (Octagonal room at Glastonbury Towers.) A garden room get-together allows six trivial titled characters, the Brookes, the Cudworths, and the Glastonburys, to deliver exposition on their family relationships. They also discuss guests who are not trivial: Disraeli, his wife Lady Beaconsfield, and Sir Michael Probert. There is also Mrs. Travers, a joker among the face cards, into everyone's business. Charles is there too, full of plans for model communities. He is jealous, as Disraeli has captured Clarissa's attention and admiration. Probert refuses to allow the Bank of England to fund purchase of the Khedive of Egypt's shares in the canal. Disraeli dismisses him with a warning the day may come when Probert's hand will be forced. Aware of Charles' hostility, Disraeli is impressed when he answers him frankly as to the cause. Disraeli confides to his wife his intention to match Charles and Clarissa, by turning the young man into someone she can admire. Disraeli disarms Charles by confiding his plans for "a ditch in the sand..." but Mrs. Travers intrudes, so he concludes with "...is best for planting celery". (Curtain)
Act II (Disraeli's private room at 10 Downing Street.) Charles is now working for Disraeli, who plays a cat-and-mouse game with another newcomer, Foljambe. Charles and Mr. Tearle are unaware of these dynamics. Foljambe tries to make off with dispatches from Russia, but is foiled by Disraeli, without an open fuss. Mr. Tearle announces Mr. Meyers. Disraeli lets Charles know Meyers has raised the funds for the Suez. Disraeli and Meyers go into a private conference room. Foljambe returns from an errand in time to see Meyers. He surprises Charles by asking is it about the Suez? Charles doesn't reply, but his face reveals everything. Clarissa and Mrs. Travers arrive; Foljambe passes the latter a note and leaves. When Clarissa and Charles are distracted, Mrs. Travers reads the note. As the couple step out on the balcony, she summons Foljambe. He is to leave for Ostend, where he will receive further orders for Egypt. When Charles tells Disraeli about Foljambe's question, he guesses what has happened. Disraeli tells Charles to immediately leave for Egypt to tender the offer, warning him of the personal danger. Clarissa tells Charles that win or lose the canal, she will oblige him upon his return. (Curtain)
Act III (Disraeli's study at Hughenden Manor.) Disraeli has gone to his estate to await word from Charles in Egypt. He is also concerned about his wife, who has had some fainting spells. Clarissa and Lady Beaconsfield are there when a telegram from Charles arrives: "The Suez Canal Purchase is completed and the cheque accepted". But the sudden entrance of Meyers brings disastrous news. He is bankrupt; a ship carrying his bullion was deliberately scuttled, and rumors are being broadcast in the city about his credit. Disraeli realizes both were accomplished through Mrs. Travers and her Russian employers. Disraeli sends Meyers back to London, and urges him to do nothing. Mrs. Travers arrives, and is decoyed into the garden by Clarissa. Disraeli sends Lady Beaconsfield to fetch Probert, who lives nearby. He then confronts Mrs. Travers alone; the masks are off and she admits to having triggered the bankruptcy. When Probert arrives with Lady Beaconsfield, Disraeli reminds him of his earlier warning. Unless Probert has the Bank of England grant Meyers unlimited credit, honoring his check drawn on the bank for £5 million, Disraeli will have the House of Commons withdraw the bank's charter. Probert, fearing disgrace, reluctantly assents. He departs,This dialogue and what follows were added during a rewrite while playing Chicago in February 1911. angrily exclaiming how terrible a man like you should hold power. Clarissa is delighted that Disraeli has so much power, but he admits "I haven't, dear child, but he doesn't know that". (Curtain)
Act IV (Grand reception room at 10 Downing Street.) The Suez now safely under British ownership, Disraeli has coerced the Commons into granting Victoria the title Empress of India. The diplomatic and aristocratic grandees of London have gathered at a reception to await the Queen's arrival to officially receive the honor. Clarissa, however, waits for Charles' imminent return from Egypt, while Disraeli misses Lady Beaconfield's company and dreads expected news of her final moments. Charles enters to joyous reunion with Clarissa, who breaks off when a telegram is brought to Disraeli. He cannot bring himself to open it, until a tap on his shoulder from behind reveals a smiling Lady Beaconsfield. The telegram was just to announce her recovery and expected attendance. (Final curtain)
Original production Background
Liebler & Company was a partnership between investor T. A. Liebler and producer-manager George C. Tyler. In his 1934 memoir, Tyler says he first met George Arliss when the latter was a supporting actor for Mrs. Patrick Campbell. Liebler & Company had signed her to a management contract and brought her from England for her first American tour. When Tyler ran into Arliss at the St. Nicholas Hotel in Cincinnati some years later, he was performing in a dismal failure and wondering where he could get a good play. Over several days they pondered together and came up with a notion that the life of Benjamin Disraeli might yield some good material.Tyler and Furnas, pp.184-185. Liebler & Company had already produced Louis N. Parker's Pomander Walk, and Tyler said Parker "wrote Disraeli for us".Tyler and Furnas, p.190.
Robert M. Fells says Arliss saw a portrayal of the Victorian British statesman Benjamin Disraeli as an ideal vehicle for his stage career.Fells pp. 25-26 It was written in London during 1910. Parker suffered from writer's block at one point and received some assistance from Arliss. Parker included a subplot lifted from the 1839 play Richelieu by Edward Bulwer-Lytton which was later the subject of some controversy. He added a number of fictitious characters to add excitement and drama to the story. The real role of Lionel de Rothschild in the purchase was changed to that of the fictional banker Meyers.Fells p. 28
Cast + Principal cast for the opening tour and during the original Broadway run. The production was on hiatus from 30 April through 10 September 1911. Role Actor Dates Notes and sourcesClarissa, Lady PevenseyElsie Leslie23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912Benjamin DisraeliGeorge Arliss23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912Duke of GlastonburyCharles Carey23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912Duchess of GlastonburyLeila Repton23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912Mrs. Noel TraversMargaret Dale23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912Charles, Vicount DeefordCourtenay Foote23 Jan 1911 – 29 Apr 1911Ian Maclaren11 Sep 1911 – 15 Apr 1912TBA16 Apr 1912 – 20 Apr 1912MacLaren covered for Lee Baker in The Garden of Allah due to latter's illness.Ian Maclaren22 Apr 1912 – 18 May 1912Lady BeaconsfieldMarguerite Saint-John23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912Saint-John was often credited as "St. John" and occasionally as "Margaret".Sir Michael ProbertDavid Torrence23 Jan 1911 – 29 Apr 1911Herbert Standing11 Sep 1911 – 18 May 1912Hugh MeyersJ. L. Mackay23 Jan 1911 – 29 Apr 1911Oscar Adye11 Sep 1911 – 18 May 1912Adolphus, Vicount CudworthGeoffrey Douglas23 Jan 1911 – 29 Apr 1911J. R. Torrens11 Sep 1911 – 18 May 1912Lady CudworthConstance Kirkham23 Jan 1911 – 29 Apr 1911Frances Reeve11 Sep 1911 – 18 May 1912Lord BrookeGuy Cunningham23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912Lady BrookeJosephine Bernhardt23 Jan 1911 – 29 Apr 1911Marie R. Quinn11 Sep 1911 – 18 May 1912ButlerHarry Chessman23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912Mr. TearleDudley Digges23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912Lumley FoljambeAlexander Calvert23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912BascotDouglas Ross23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912PotterSt. Clair Bayfield23 Jan 1911 – 18 May 1912FlooksWilfrid Seagram23 Jan 1911 – 29 Apr 1911W. Mayne Lynton11 Sep 1911 – 18 May 1912
Opening tour