Elizabeth The Queen A Play In Three Acts

1930. In this new drama by the author of Saturday's Children, we see Elizabeth, Queen of England, and Essex, royal favorite and popular general, in love with each other. This is an extraordinary situation, for Essex is barely thirty and Elizabeth an aging woman. Yet even more extraordinary is the character of their love. Each is passionately devoted, yet passionately opposed, to the other. The root of the trouble is power. Elizabeth delights in Essex, the courtier and lover, but is jealous of Essex, the military leader and hero. Her constant effort is to keep him quietly at Court under her own control. On the other hand, Essex, the last of a proud family, longs for action, glory and power. He despises Elizabeth's crafty, cautious statesmanship. He is for strength and decision, with himself as the hero. Finally, through the plotting of Cecil and Raleigh, Essex is sent to Ireland, juggled out of favor, and, insultingly summoned home, arrives with an army, determined to get his way by force. This situation is resolved by Mr. Anderson with an ending of extraordinary poignancy and power.