MEDEA (1959) JUDITH ANDERSON

This is the televised filming of Robinson Jeffers' adaptation of Medea, written for Judith Anderson, here performed in 1959. "The Greatest Living Actress" Judith Anderson was given her title as Dame by Queen Elizabeth the year following the release of this filmed production of Anderson's greatest work. It was through her monumental contributions to the arts which won Dame Judith Anderson her spot in history. What you see here is the only fully captured memento of an unparalleled production of the twentieth century-- a masterpiece of theatre, and a performance which had the power to break every record for Greek Tragedy in theatre, ever.

Anderson first opened Medea in October 1947, touring for the record-breaking run of 214 performances, showing to full houses even until its close. Between the mistreatment by producers and the staggering exhaustion of her performances being sustained for so long-- with performances six days a week, Medea took a tremendous toll on Anderson. She closed her performance early when the producers refused to meet her demands for fairer treatment and earned respect, and as a result of the early close theatregoers were clawing at ticket booths in outrage to have missed their chance to see this piece of history.

After a long break for her health, however, Anderson went on to return to the role-- Her role-- in new tours a number of times across the 1950s, and even still into the 1960s, when she was nearly 70 years old. Always allowing the role to develop and change with her, this was an intimate affair for Anderson. Reviewers said of the performance that it was useless now for anyone else to play the part-- so complete was her understanding of the role, so profound her artistry, that no one else could do justice in her wake. Even Euripides-- even the mythological witch-priestess from Colchis, Medea, herself, would not understand the character as wholly as did Judith Anderson.

And indeed, Anderson felt very close to the role, even admitting in late life that she personally identified as Medea even then. She was relatively quiet about her interpretation of the character, just as she was private about details of her personal life-- and both subjects were often off-limits to interviewers.

Now, the work of Jeffers should not be understated. In adapting the famous tragedy by Euripides, written over 2,000 years ago, American poet Robinson Jeffers breathed new life into the characters through and through. This adaptation transforms the dusty and inaccessible language of ancient literature into one of the most unmistakably human tragedies today, exploring every extreme of emotion with clarity and magnificent poetry, while yet preserving the timeless magic of Euripides in every line of his language.

Jeffers had written this role by the request of Anderson, a long and dear friend, and the result which you see today of their collaboration is simply unmatched.



Please enjoy.

With all my love,
Oetta

ACT I: 0:00:00
ACT II: 31:10
ACT III: 45:06
ACT IV: 1:00:06
ACT V: 1:18:45