Royce Ryton Holiday In Spala


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Sat 25th Jul 1970, 20:30 on BBC Radio 4 FM Holiday in Spala by Royce Ryton, adapted for radio by Alison Plowden from Royce Ryton's stage play, "Holiday in Spala", first produced at the 1969 Edinburgh Festival Fringe   Produced by Norman Wright It is October 1912: The action of the play takes place in the hall of Spala. the Tsar's small shooting lodge in Poland, where the Imperial family would go for a quiet holiday.   With Rachel Gurney [Tsarina Alexandra Fyorodovna], Noel Johnson [Tsar Nicholas II of Russia], Patricia Gallimore [Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna], Elizabeth Proud [Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaievna], Rita Staines [Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna], Deborah Dallas [Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna], Jo Manning Wilson [Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaevich], Margo Boyd [Dowager Empress Marie of Russia], Hector Ross [Grand Duke Alexander Michaelovich], Madi Hedd [Crown Princess Maria (Missy) of Romania], Sonia Fraser [Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden], James Thomason [Prince Nicholas Yussupov], John Rye   [Prince Carol of Romania], Hilda Kriseman [Princess Radziwill of Poland], George Raistrick [Doctor Botkin], and Clifford Norgate [Count Fredericks, Minister of the Imperial Court]. The action of the play takes place in the hall of a small shooting lodge in Poland called Spala. A pleasant retreat for Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, and his wife and children. It is October 1912 and the Imperial family have just arrived to spend a quiet holiday. But the holiday would eventually lead the Tsarina Alexandra placing the fate of her son, her husband and his empire  in the hands of a   wandering holy man.   Though on holiday, Tsar Nicholas II still has an Empire to run as he worries over the state of internal affairs as well as the future of foreign affairs. With rumours of a war looming with Germany, Nicholas tries to convince his eldest daughter, Olga, now 17, that it would be in the best interest of Russia if she marry Prince Carol of Romania.   The 8-year-old Heir to the Throne is fighting for his life. To the devastated Alexandra, it seems that God is not answering her prayers to heal her son and so, in desperation, she sends a telegram to Grigori Rasputin...  

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.