From Sleep And Shadow,
Episode 2 of Spirit Of Man
I heard a voice exultant, sweet, and true"by Peter Barnes
Starring Eleanor David, Nigel Hawthorne, and Alan Rickman
first aired on August 2, 1989
I would especially welcome a commentary on the historical or religious framework to this script.
Note: This review contains a summary of the complete plot. Since the plot is full of surprises you might want to skip to the Commentary.
The Plot
:With a flare of light, the heavy doors fling open and in bursts Israel Yates (Alan Rickman), a ranter, wearing tattered clothes and round dark wire-rimmed glasses, spewing words at machine-gun speed, punching the air with his fists, and tossing seashells into the air. He looks demented.
Jonathan has called for Israel because he wants Israel to resurrect Abigail. After an animated discussion, Israel pulls out some white feathers (which he uses for making his clothes warmer) to check if Abigail is still breathing. She is.
Israel produces a quartz crystal and, starting with the words "God’s will through our will", brings the woman back.
Jonathan’s wife sits up, bolt-upright, but it is Sarah, Jonathan’s first wife, who’s back. Sarah is angry and unforgiving, since on her deathbed Sarah had made Jonathan promise he would not marry Abigail, a young woman Sarah had raised.
Sarah, had died on August 4, 1653 (the year Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector, see links below), years prior to when the action takes place, but now Sarah has made Abigail stay unconscious. Sarah views Abigail as an usurper: for that reason, Sarah has taken over Abigail’s body.
With great dramatic flair, Israel beckons Sarah to forgive and allow Abigail to return, ending his plea with a fondle and a passionate kiss.
Minutes later Abigail, now speaking in her own voice, reveals that it was Israel’s voice who brought her back, "I heard a voice exultant . . ." Abigail and Israel are reunited. It’s time for Israel to leave, but before leaving Abigail asks him, "What will you do?", to which he replies, "Continue acting".
Abigail and Jonathan are left alone in the darkened room, when Israel tears in, bringing in light again, and bursts into song and dance, encouraging them to praise God with a joyful heart. They join him, with Jonathan saying, "The only way to save your life is to sacrifice your reputation"
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Commentary
Overall rating: 5 hands
Rickmaniac rating: 5 hands
This is a very unusual and highly entertaining TV program. Among the many lagoons of ignorance in my background, the particular historical period of the 17th Century reaches ocean-sized proportions, so I will only comment on the program itself.
The cast was terrific. Nigel Hawthorne (who was also in Barchester Chronicles), and Eleanor David are wonderful as the couple struggling with the past, their love for each other, and their guilt.
I do not know if the part of Israel was written specifically for Mr. Rickman, but if not, the casting director must be a Rickmaniac. Mr. Rickman plays Israel to the hilt, with great flair and abandon. This 1989 role foreshadows several wonderful Rickman performances that were yet in the future: It combines Professor Snape's entrance, Mesmer’s (1994) healing voice, Rasputin’s (1996) passion, and George’s (Robin Hood, Prince Of Thieves, 1991) grand volubility.
Mr. Rickman does amazing things, not the least of which is an astonishingly strong leap by which he jumps on to the table, landing on one foot, in perfect balance. He sings, he dances, he Lets It Rip. He’s great.
I am eternally grateful to the friend who sent me this tape
Oliver Cromwell: Constitutional Crisis In England
