Variation on a Theme (play)

Variation on a Theme is a 1958 play by the British writer Terence Rattigan. It is a reworking of Alexandre Dumas, fils's nineteenth century novel and subsequent play La Dame aux Camélias.

Original production
Directed by John Gielgud, the play opened (after a pre-London tour), at the Globe Theatre, London, on 8 May 1958, with the following cast:
 * Hettie - Jean Anderson
 * Rose - Margaret Leighton
 * Ron - Jeremy Brett
 * Kurt - George Pravda
 * Fiona - Felicity Ross
 * Adrian - Lawrence Dalzell
 * Mona - Mavis Villiers
 * Sam - Michael Goodliffe

Reception
While not received well by the critics, the play ran for 132 performances. Kenneth Tynan wrote in The Observer:"'As far as I could see the star of the show was Norman Hartnell, from whose contributions – a white diamanté sack, a shocking-pink cocktail dress in pleated chiffon, a casual ensemble of blouse and pedal-pushing slacks, and a two-tiered ball-gown in navy-blue pebble-crèpe – the lean extremities of Margaret Leighton nervously protuded [sic].'"

1966 TV adaptation
The play was adapted for British television in 1966.

Cast

 * Irene Worth a Rose
 * Gary Bond as Ron
 * Catherine Lacey as Hettie
 * Grant Taylor as Kurt
 * John Bailey as Sam
 * Helen Horton as Mona