FROM THE ARCHIVES:The director and, later, the cast of the Tennessee Williams play The Rose Tattoo were arrested, apparently because the authorities feared the archbishop of Dublin would consider it lewd, making it the cause celebre of the first Dublin Theatre Festival. – JOE JOYCE
FOUR DETECTIVES arrived in a squad car at the Pike Theatre Club in Herbert Lane, Dublin, last night and took Mr. Alan Simpson, co-director of the theatre, to the Bridewell.
While Mr. Simpson was being taken away, a capacity audience in the theatre was watching the first English-language production in Europe of The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. The theatre was given a guarantee by the Dublin Tostal Council in connection with the presentation.
Before the police arrived to take him away, Mr. Simpson told reporters that last Tuesday Inspector Ward, of the Civic Guard, informed him that if The Rose Tattoo was presented that night he would be arrested. Mr. Simpson said that Inspector Ward told him that his instructions came from Deputy Commissioner Garrett Brennan. Three detectives spoke to Mr. Simpson and escorted him to the door leading to the booking office. They stood just inside the door talking and as photographers levelled their cameras, the detectives put their shoulders to the door while Mr. Aidan C. Maguire, manager of the theatre, attempted to hold the door open to allow the photographs to be taken.
Five minutes later Mrs. Simpson [Carolyn Swift] went to the door, which had been opened, and had a brief conversation with her husband, who was then led to the waiting car, a detective holding his arm. After the car had been driven away, Mrs. Simpson said that her husband had been taken to the Bridewell.
Earlier in the day, Mr. and Mrs. Simpson announced that Lord Longford had refused to permit them to present The Rose Tattoo in the Gate Theatre which, it had been announced, would begin there next Monday. Last Wednesday, they stated, Mr. Simpson had informed Lord Longford about the visit of Inspector Ward.
Having taken legal advice, and in view of the financial loss that would be sustained if the performance did not continue, Mr. and Mrs. Simpson decided to go on with the show that night, their statement continued.
On Wednesday, a letter was sent to Dublin Castle by Mr. Simpson’s solicitor, inquiring “on what grounds or legal authority the guards made this threat of arrest”. As no reply had yet been received, the presentation in the Pike was continuing.
Mr. and Mrs. Simpson stated that they were at a loss to understand the action of the Civic Guard the directors were of the opinion that The Rose Tattoo was a fine human play. No action or dialogue condoned any form of immorality. Mr. Simpson, who is aged 36, and a captain in the Army Corps of Engineers, was the founder with his wife of the Pike Theatre Club in 1953. He was formerly stage director of the Gate Theatre.
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