Rodney Ackland (1908–1991)

I only discovered the plays of Rodney Ackland in the course of research on an actor who had played in one of his works, but I am very happy I did. Ackland reminds me a great deal of Noel Coward--not so much in the wit and surface gaiety of so much of Coward's work, but in his subtle observations and revelations of the inner lives of English folk. One of these two plays, "The Dark River," is described in a critical blurb as "perhaps the one great play of the past half century in English." That's a strong statement, one I'm prepared neither to dispute nor confirm. It's an especially strong statement for such a subtle work. But both it and its companion piece here, "After October," are the works of a very fine artist. I am astonished that his work is not better known.… (meer)