Showing posts with label Queen Elizabeth I. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Queen Elizabeth I. Show all posts

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Book review: Mary was a 'Captive Queen'


Jade Scott, is a specialist on Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), and the secretary of the Scottish History Society and an associate fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Dr. Scott's dissertation increased her interest in Mary, imprisoned for almost half her life (19 years) by her first cousin once removed, Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603).

These cousins never met. 

Although she signed the papers for Mary's execution, Elizabeth was supposedly unaware the death sentence would be carried out and became angry with her ministers when she learned of it. The irony, of course, is that Mary's son, James (1566-1625) became King of England after Elizabeth died and had his mother's body exhumed from Peterborough Cathedral and re-interred in 1612 near Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey.

James was less than one year old the last time he saw his mother and 13 months old when he was crowned King of Scotland. Mary wrote to her son often.

According to an interview with Dr. ScottMary wrote and received thousands of letters. Dr. Scott's book, 
Captive Queen The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots sheds light on 57 newly encrypted letters which describe Mary's many attempts to escape but never presents proof that she intended to participate in the murder of the Queen, a plot which was Mary's downfall.

Some of the letters were exchanged with the Spanish and French ambassadors. If you are familiar with the Babington Plot, Dr. Scott's book has more for you to read.

The most interesting chapter was Mary's everyday life in prison, luxurious by commoners' standards, with meals served on silver plate and in crystal glassware, prepared by her French chef who offered her a choice of 32 different dishes, wine and beer (up to 20 gallons daily for herself and her servants).

The English are different from you and me; and so are the Scots! Did you know they had their own language? Nor did I, but the author mentioned that a few times. 

So many names! Jumping hither and yon, it’s hard to keep track of all the characters, even with the dramatis personae at the beginning and how is that arranged, please?

Alphabetically, non.

Chronologically, non.

Type of person? Conspirators, courtiers, women, to name a few differentiated "types," but even within those segments, their arrangement is ...? I never could figure it out.

The end of the book has an excellent, extensive chronology of Mary’s life.

Captive Queen is not so much a great book for the lay, but it is more appealing to academicians and her "deep scholars." Still (being of the "lay" persuasion), I can’t seem to get her out of my mind.

For more on Mary and photos of her life, go here.

Former burial place of Mary, Queen of Scots, Peterborough Cathedral/Wikipedia and Derek Voller

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Friday, April 28, 2023

Alexandria's queens duke it out


From left, Sally Cusenza, Paul Donahoe, Sarah Cusenza, and Maria Ciarrocchi in Little Theatre of Alexandria's Mary Stuart/Matt Liptak

The present drama on stage at the Little Theatre of Alexandria is a 2005 version by Peter Oswald of the 1800 play Mary Stuartby German playwright Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805), a masterpiece production certain to attract historians and theatre lovers alike to learn more about the conflict between two queens, to gauge accuracy and see nobles vie for the throne of England before ostensible  orders by Elizabeth I ended Mary's life with beheading, like Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, had died upon direction by Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, who was Mary's great uncle.

(Did you get all that?  If not, the play provides clarity and background for  better understanding.)

Mary Stuart of Scotland (AKA Mary, Queen of Scots, 1542-1587), a Catholic, and Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), a Protestant, experienced different upbringings and lifestyles which no doubt contributed to their clash.

The two powerful women never met but Schiller brings them together for his play. 

A fierce verbal battle erupts on stage when Mary and Elizabeth compete amidst secrets and courtiers who have no allegiance except to themselves

But Mary's chilling words hurled at her cousin cannot be forgotten and seal her doom. 

In the production, both actors (Sarah Cusenza is Mary Stuart, and Maria Ciarrocchi is Elizabeth) are more than convincing in their styles and portrayals of the two queens, although Ciarrocchi's screams became taxing at times.

From left, Sarah Cusenza and Maria Ciarrocchi in Little Theatre of Alexandria's Mary Stuart/Matt Liptak


The Earl of Leicester (Thomas O'Neill) was a typical hypocrite who does a splendid job of loving both two queens, but neither is more important than his love of self. 

John Paul Odle is the Schiller-fictionalized and aptly named "Mortimer," Mary's confidant who commits suicide after Mary's enemies learn about his plan to rescue his queen from imprisonment.

Poor William Davison (Stuart Fischer), one of Queen Elizabeth's aides who is understandably confused by the death warrant for Mary which Elizabeth gives him.  

To kill or not to kill?

The surly and conceited Lord Burleigh (John Henderson) takes the warrant from Davison without hesitation, making headway to do the Queen's will...which was? 

Lord Burleigh will interpret it his own way, if you please. Off with her head!   To which Elizabeth claims error.  

"How dare you?" and to the tower and banishment they go. 

The show runs three hours, but its complexity, intrigues, and costumes (!) demand attention, and make it seem shorter.  

Elizabeth had Mary imprisoned for 19 years and the play begins and ends in 1587 at the Castle of Fotheringhay, the scene of Mary's last confinement and her trial. 

The set by Matt Liptak is a realistic depiction of high brick walls (and landscaping) found in pictures of English castles in the Middle Ages.

With a few quick turns, Mary's prison quickly converts to Queen Elizabeth's Westminster Palace.

If the script were absent, Juliana Cofrancesco and Abbie Mulberg's  lavish costumes and hair and makeup by Robin Maline and Lanae Sterrett, assisted by Karen Malin, are practically worth the cost of admission. 

Elizabeth's gowns sparkle with jewels, multiple "diamonds" lining her apparel. Standup collars, and the men's white stockings and their own luxurious wardrobe produce gladness and a singing heart that these styles are not in vogue today.  

Wardrobe coordinators, Mary Beth Smith-Toomey and Margaret Snow help fit Mary in a white gown for her execution, like the one she wore for her death by ax.  

To maintain historical accuracy as much as possible, bright red and auburn hair for the queens result in appearances similar to portraits of the women.  

Queen Elizabeth I, c. 1575/Wikimedia Commons
Mary, Queen of Scots/
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Life Museums, unknown artist


Sound director Janice Rivera and her crew use drums to herald strife and stringed instruments, choruses, crowd and animal noises in the background at critical moments to complement the show.  

Even now, hundreds of years later, the interminable themes of man v. woman and who's in charge here? can be heard and seen today, echoing in courtrooms, state legislatures and found in daily (and hourly) news reports, including art reviews, like one recently in the Washington Post about the misognyist, Pablo Picasso.  

 Sam Beeson, John Barclay Burns, Paul Donahoe, Richard Fiske, Kirk Lambert, Sally Cusenza, and Lee Swanson are other cast members.

Production crew members also included Margaret Chapmen and Hilary Adams, producers and (Adams) dialect coach; Helen Bard-Sobola and Fred C. Lash, assistant producers; Kathleen Barth, director; Mia Amado and Jenna Dawkins, assistant directors.

Also, Dana Maksymova, stage manager; Lauren Markovich, assistant stage manager; Griffin Voltmann, dramaturg; Matt Liptak, set design; Julie Fischer, set construction; Luana Bossolo, set painting; Donna Reynolds, set decoration; Allison Gray-Mendes, properties; Matthew Cheney, lighting, Pam Leonowich, master electrician; Ian Claar, fight/intimacy choreographer; and Russell M. Wyland, rigging.

 When: Now through May 13, 2023, Wednesday - Saturday nights, 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees, 3 p.m.

Where:  Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Tickets:  $24 (Wed.- Fri.), $27 (Sat. and Sun.). Prices includes fees.

Masks are required in the auditorium and strongly encouraged but optional in other areas of the theatre.  

Audience:  For ages 13 and up. 

Duration:  About 3 hours with one 15 minute intermission

Public transportationCheck the Metro and Dash bus websites. Dash is free to ride and has routes which are close to LTA.

Parking: is free on the streets and at Capital One Bank at Wilkes and Washington streets, a block away.  Paid parking is available at nearby garages.

For more information:  Box Office: 703-683-0496; Main Office, 703-683-5778 or boxoffice@thelittletheatre.com.


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Monday, September 3, 2012

Chasing Mary, Queen of Scots through Scotland

Mary, Queen of Scots/pastalamode.webs.com and Wikimedia Commons
 
She (1542-1587) gave birth to her only child, the future king of Scotland (James VI, 1566-1625) and the king of England (James I) in what are now public rooms at Edinburgh Castle. 
 
Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI of Scotland and James I of England at Edinburgh Castle/Patricia Leslie

About a year after James's birth, rebels forced Mary, Queen of Scots to relinquish her crown to her toddler son who was taken from her, and she never saw him again.  (He was later criticized for not doing much to save his mum, a docent/guide somewhere in Scotland, I think at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, told me.) 

How did Mary’s son become King of Scotland and the King of England?  Easy.  There was nobody left, but please read on.

To describe briefly, Mary was married three times: 
1.  Francis, the Dauphin of France, who died two year after their marriage (1558-1560)
2.  Lord Darnley, her first cousin and King James’s father (?), married from 1565-1567 until Darnley was found strangled “in the garden” after an explosion, likely caused by a group which included her third husband
3.  James Hepburn, the Fourth Earl of Bothwell, whom she married May 15, 1567 just three months after Darnley's murder on February 9-10, 1567 (and 12 days after the Earl's divorce) and a month after the Earl was acquitted on April 12, 1567 of the Darnley murder charge.

Also, Husband #2, Lord Darnley, was most likely involved in the murder of Mary’s private secretary, David Rizzio (rumored to be James’s father) at the Palace of Holyroodhouse where Rizzio was dragged from audience with Mary and stabbed to death in rooms which are open to visitors,  but, please, no photographs.  (And whatever happens, get to the palace before 4:30 p.m., not 5 p.m., I don’t care what the signs say because one hour is insufficient time to see the palace and besides (as what happened to me, truly) the staff will push you through the doors, slamming them in your wake, and letting it generally be known that you are not welcome, so get out, and be done with you. We've got your admission fee already; who cares what you want to see? The Scottish really are not half as nice as the Irish.  Where was I?)
The Murder of David Rizzio by John Opie (1761-1807)/Guildhall Art Gallery and Wikimedia Commons


Mary's bedchambers at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The doorway on the left opens to a small room where Mary met with David Rizzio before he was dragged and stabbed 56 times.  All these rooms are open to the public when the Queen is not in residence/Palace of Holyroodhouse
 
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, the Queen's official residence when she is in Scotland and open to the public when she is not. Palace guides said the Queen visits Edinburgh every year and spends about four to five days at Holyroodhouse, the palace where Mary married Lord Darnley and the likely site of her marriage to the Earl of Bothwell, too, and the scene of the murder of David Rizzio, Mary's private secretary/Patricia Leslie
 
The interior courtyard at Palace of Holyroodhouse where Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter and Olympic medalist, Zara Phillips, and Mike Tindall had their wedding reception in 2011.  A guide told me the grass came from seeds from Canada and was covered up for three weeks preceding the reception/Patricia Leslie
 
 
You used to think modern royalty was full of innuendo and intrigue.   Folks:  Where there are people, can love, sex, and rock and roll be far behind?  (Speaking of…Prince Wild Harry in Las Vegas...)

But back to Mary.

The rebels had had enough of Mary, her shenanigans, the murders, the husbands, and carried her off to prison at the Loch Leven Castle beginning about a month after her marriage to Bothwell. 

The island on Loch Leven and the castle where Mary, Queen of Scots was first imprisoned/Patricia Leslie 

Mary escaped the next year and fled to England in hopes that her dear cousin, Queen Elizabeth (whom she never met and who was also her son’s godmother) would help her regain the Scottish throne.  Elizabeth's parents were King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Queen Elizabeth I. Note how much Elizabeth and Mary looked alike/Unknown artist, c. 1575, National Portrait Gallery, London and Wikimedia Commons


Elizabeth believed Mary had designs of her own on Elizabeth’s throne (which most sources confirm) and kept her locked up in various places for 19 years.


This small, embroidered velvet and silver purse is believed to have belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots, and is on display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow, Scotland/Patricia Leslie
 
This necklace was given by Mary, Queen of Scots to her attendant, Mary Seton, while Mary was imprisoned.  Earrings (not shown) match the necklace.  From the Queen's Gallery at Palace of Holyroodhouse/Patricia Leslie
 

On February 8, 1587 Mary was beheaded.  Elizabeth was shocked!  Shocked, I tell you, when she received the news that her cousin had lost her head. (An eyewitness wrote that Mary's "lips stirred up and down a quarter of an hour after her head was cut off.")

Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots by Robert Herdman in 1867/Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, bequeathed by Adam Teacher, 1898

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, February 8, 1587/Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum,
 


 
Sixteen years later Cousin Elizabeth got her comeuppance (so to speak) for without heirs, who was going to succeed the Queen? None other than Mary’s son, James VI of Scotland who was crowned King of England July 25, 1603 after Elizabeth died on March 24,1603. 

In 1612 James had his mother's body exhumed from her grave in Peterborough Cathedral and placed under an elaborate marble sculpture at Westminster Abbey in London in the Henry VII chapel across the aisle from…dear Cousin Elizabeth.  Henry VII was the great-grandfather of Mary and the grandfather of Elizabeth.

The tomb of Mary, Queen of Scots at Westminster Abbey, London/Bernard Gagnon and Wikimedia Commons
 
 
Canongate Kirk where Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, and Mike Tindall were married in 2011, along the Royal Mile and close to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.  It is believed that David Rizzio is buried here.  On the right is a statue of poet Robert Fergusson/Patricia Leslie

Canongate Kirk (church)/Patricia Leslie
 
A search for the grave of Adam Smith (1723-1790), author of The Wealth of Nations, led me to Canongate Kirk/Patricia Leslie

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