Christopher Fry, a renowned 20th-century playwright, was celebrated for his exceptional verbal creativity, earning him the esteemed title of "the Shakespeare of his time" for his remarkable poetry and wit.
His iconic plays, such as "The Lady's Not For Burning", "Venus Observed", and "The Dark Is Light Enough", have solidified their position as modern classics. The renowned actor Laurence Olivier referred to Fry as a "dialogue sorcerer", while the esteemed critic Harold Hobson praised him as "a master jeweler of words".
Fry's work has been associated with an impressive array of actors and directors, including Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Michael Redgrave, Edith Evans, Vivien Leigh, Alec Clunes, and Peter Brook. Astonishingly, Fry continued to write plays well into his nineties.
In the original West End production of "The Lady's Not For Burning", two unknown actors, Richard Burton and Claire Bloom, appeared in supporting roles. Fry also co-scripted the 1958 film Ben-Hur (1959),having previously written the screenplay for The Beggar's Opera (1953) for Peter Brook. His involvement in Ben-Hur (1959) was extensive, as he was asked to write the scenes from the crucifixion onwards but ultimately rewrote most of the film. Although only Karl Tunberg, an MGM scriptwriter, received official credit, Fry and Gore Vidal were also involved in the project.
Tragically, Christopher Fry passed away on June 30th, 2005, at the age of 97.
