Finding Neverland | |
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Music | Scott Frankel (Leicester production) Gary Barlow (Revised edition) Eliot Kennedy (Revised edition) |
Lyrics | Michael Korie (Leicester production) Gary Barlow (Revised edition) Elliott Kennedy (Revised edition) |
Book | Allan Knee (Leicester production) James Graham (Revised edition) |
Basis | The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee and Finding Neverland by David Magee |
Productions | 2012 Leicester 2014 Cambridge 2015 Broadway 2016 US Tour |
Finding Neverland is a musical with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy and a book by James Graham adapted from the 1998 play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee and its 2004 film version Finding Neverland . An early version of the musical made its world premiere at the Curve Theatre in Leicester in 2012 with a book by Allan Knee, music by Scott Frankel and lyrics by Michael Korie. A reworked version with the current writing team made its world premiere in 2014 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. [1] Following completion of its Cambridge run, the production transferred to Broadway in March 2015.
After a 17-month Broadway run, Finding Neverland closed on 21 August 2016, and began a U.S. national tour the following month.
On 6 February 2011, La Jolla Playhouse, California, announced that they would produce a new stage musical based on the film with the book by Allan Knee, score by Scott Frankel (music) and Michael Korie (lyrics), and directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford. [2] A planned production at La Jolla Playhouse was not held. [3] A developmental reading was held in New York on 31 March 2011, with Julian Ovenden, Kelli O'Hara, Tony Roberts, Mary Beth Peil, Michael Cumpsty, and Meredith Patterson, directed by Ashford. [4] The adaptation had its world premiere on 22 September 2012 at Curve in Leicester. [5] Directed by Rob Ashford, it starred Julian Ovenden as J.M Barrie and West End actress Rosalie Craig as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.
On 4 September 2013, it was announced that producer Harvey Weinstein had hired Barry Weissler as executive producer. They planned on opening a revised version of the musical at the American Repertory Theater (ART), Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2014. The revised musical had a new creative team, with Diane Paulus as director, a new book by James Graham, and 22 songs by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy, [6] with a few songs from the original composers. A private reading was held in September 2013 with Brian d’Arcy James as Barrie and Jason Alexander as the "nagging theater producer". [7] On 27 February 2014, a further developmental workshop was announced for March with Matthew Morrison as Barrie. [8]
The revised production ran at the ART from 23 July 2014 to 28 September 2014, with songs by six-time Ivor Novello Award winner Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy, the book by James Graham and choreography by Mia Michaels; ART artistic director Diane Paulus is the director. [9] The full cast and creative team was announced on 2 June 2014, with Jeremy Jordan as Barrie and Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies featured. The cast also includes Michael McGrath as Charles Frohman/Captain Hook, Carolee Carmello as Madame du Maurier, Jeanna de Waal as Mary Barrie, Aidan Gemme as Peter, Alex Dreier as Michael, Sawyer Nunes as George and Hayden Signoretti as Jack. [10] Roger Bart who was originally announced for the character of Charles Frohman was replaced by Michael McGrath. [11]
Jennifer Hudson debuted the song "Neverland", from the musical, at the 68th Tony Awards on 8 June 2014. [12]
The ART production directed by Diane Paulus moved to Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in March 2015. [13] On 10 November 2014, it was announced that Matthew Morrison would take Jordan's place in the portrayal of J. M. Barrie in the Broadway production. [14] Kelsey Grammer starred as Charles Frohman and Laura Michelle Kelly reprised the role of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. [15] Previews began 15 March 2015, with the official opening on 15 April. [16] [17] The production did not receive any Tony Award nominations. The Broadway production closed on 21 August 2016 after 565 performances. [18] [19] In 2017, as an offshoot of investigations into and reporting about Weinstein's many sexual abuse allegations, several news sources also reported that a significant amount of money that Weinstein ostensibly raised for the AIDS charity amfAR was instead allegedly funneled into the American Repertory Theater and the production budget for Finding Neverland. [20] [21] [22] [23]
In early 2016 it was announced that Finding Neverland would open in London in 2017, starring Alfie Boe as J.M. Barrie. The rest of the cast was not announced at the time. [24] On 15 May 2016, Gary Barlow performed the song "Something About This Night" from the musical for the Queen's 90th birthday celebration, hosted by Ant & Dec. Guest starring was Katherine Jenkins and Dame Shirley Bassey.
The US national tour began in Buffalo, New York on 7 October 2016, prior to the official opening on 11 October. The tour was directed by Diane Paulus and featured Kevin Kern as J.M. Barrie, Christine Dwyer as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Tom Hewitt as Frohman/Hook, Crystal Kellogg, Joanna Glushak, Jordan Cole, Finn Faulconer, Tyler Patrick Hennessy, Ben Krieger, Eli Tokash and Mitchell Wray. [25] [26] John Davidson replaced Hewitt in June 2017. [27]
Note: Below are the principal casts of all professional major productions. some roles are portrayed by the same actors.
Role | Original Leicester Cast 2012 | Original A.R.T. Cast 2014 | Original Broadway Cast 2015 | U.S. National Tour Cast 2016 |
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J. M. Barrie | Julian Ovenden | Jeremy Jordan | Matthew Morrison | Kevin Kern |
Sylvia Llewelyn Davies | Rosalie Craig | Laura Michelle Kelly | Christine Dwyer | |
Charles Frohman Captain James Hook | Oliver Boot | Michael McGrath | Kelsey Grammer | Tom Hewitt |
Mary Barrie | Clare Foster | Jeanna de Waal | Teal Wicks | Crystal Kellogg |
Mrs. du Maurier | Liz Robertson | Carolee Carmello | Joanna Glushak | |
Michael Llewelyn Davies | Worrall Courtney Jon Joe Flynn Morgan Heath Jamieson Hughes | Alex Dreier | Alex Dreier Hayden Signoretti Noah Hinsdale | Jordan Cole Mitchell Wray Tyler Patrick Hennessy |
Jack Llewelyn Davies | Connor Fitzgerald Harrisson Slater Garrett Tennant | Hayden Signoretti | Hayden Signoretti Christopher Paul Richards Alex Dreier | Mitchell Wray Eli Tokash Tyler Patrick Hennessy |
George Llewelyn Davies | Connor Phillips Josh Swinney Corey Wickenden | Sawyer Nunes | Sawyer Nunes Jackson Demott Hill Christopher Paul Richards | Finn Faulconer Ben Krieger Eli Tokash |
Peter Llewelyn Davies | Theo Fewell Luke James Harry Folden | Aidan Gemme | Aidan Gemme Jackson Demott Hill Christopher Paul Richards | Ben Krieger Mitchell Wray Eli Tokash |
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Act I
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The following synopsis is based on the Broadway version of the show.
The show opens with J.M. Barrie dressed in black with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell (represented by a light) on stage. Barrie is thinking out loud about his life. He also is finding clarity and accepting himself ("If the World Turned Upside Down").
Time winds back and James M. Barrie states that the story happens in London, 1903. We see a party hosted at Barrie’s house by his wife Mary and himself, after the opening night of his latest play The Wedding Guest. Charles Frohman, the show's producer, is attending the party. The party-goers say that it's the "best party of the year", however the play failed to please the audience. Lord Canaan, a wealthy and pompous man, is also attending the party and flirts with Mary ("All of London is Here Tonight").
A month later, Barrie meets Frohman at Kensington Garden and tells him that he is almost finished with his next play to substitute the failure that The Wedding Guest was. The Llewelyn Davies boys, Peter, Michael, Jack and George, play as pirates around the park and interact with Barrie, except Peter who sits and reads. Sylvia, their mother, tries to get them to behave, but fails, ultimately joining the play ("The Pirates of Kensington"). She meets Barrie and confesses that she did not enjoy his latest play as it felt that he recycled lots of elements from the previous ones. Barrie asks Peter why did he not play with his brothers, to which he responds that he finds it all silly.
Back at their home, Mary is waiting for Barrie to go to a formal dinner, complaining that he is late. Barrie arrives and tells her that he met Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her children. Mary says that Sylvia’s husband died of cancer of the jaw and that her mother, Mrs. du Maurier, is very influential and thus they should invite them for dinner. Mary leaves alone for the dinner and Barrie tears his newest play up, believing it to be rubbish.
The next day, Barrie meets Frohman and the acting troupe, who are expecting to read the new play but are frustrated to discover Barrie threw it away. Frohman says that if Barrie cannot write another play fast he will find another writer. Later, Barrie meets with the Llewelyn Davies at the park. Barrie says to Peter that he started writing when he was his age to escape reality. He stimulates him and the rest of the family to use their imagination ("Believe"). Barrie invites Sylvia, her mother and the boys to the dinner his wife is planning.
The following month, the dinner occurs. Mrs. du Maurier tells Mary she is intrigued by Barrie’s relationship with her daughter and grandsons. Frohman arrives with Lord Canaan in an attempt to persuade him to invest in their next play. Barrie gives Peter a notebook as a present, incentivizing him to write a play. During dinner, inspired by a spoon reflecting the light, Barrie claims that the light is a fairy. Bored by the grown-ups' talk, Barrie stops time with his imagination and is joined by the boys, Sylvia and the servants to have their own party ("We Own the Night (The Dinner Party)"). The time unfreezes and Lord Cannan leaves the party offended by Barrie's behavior. Mary scolds him telling that he is behaving like a child.
Mrs. du Maurier gives Sylvia and the children a carriage ride home. Sylvia talks with her mother outside, who is worried that her relationship with Barrie is hurting her prospects. Sylvia is sick and avoiding telling her boys, since her husband recently died. Sylvia wishes to spend the rest of her life living it to the fullest with her boys and contemplates the happiness Barrie has brought to her ("All That Matters").
On another night inside the house, the boys play in their pajamas and refuse to go to sleep ("The Pirates of Kensington (Reprise)"). Barrie is there and watches the boys jumping on their beds, and is inspired as they look like they are flying. They discuss what they should play and Peter suggests they pretend to be castaways and Barrie should be an Indian chief. Peter is offended as Barrie says that as the chief he would raise the castaways as his sons, claiming he is not their father. The boys fight and Sylvia sings them to sleep ("Sylvia's Lullaby"). Barrie confides in Sylvia that when he was Peter's age his brother died, so he knows the pain of loss. Sylvia gives Barrie a thimble, claiming it protects from pain while sewing. Barrie claims his brother went to Neverland, a place he invented where no one ever grows older ("Neverland").
In the theater, Barrie presents his idea based on Neverland for his play to Frohman. Frohman is outraged as he believes the concept will not attract an audience. He also alerts Barrie to comments people have been making about his relationship with Sylvia and the boys. Barrie goes home and finds Mary alone with Lord Canaan. She confronts him with his diary, where he writes a lot about Sylvia, but not about her. She leaves him. Barrie goes to the Llewelyn Davies residence to see Sylvia and the boys, but Mrs. du Maurier stops him at the door claiming Sylvia is in bed and that their relationship is hurting her. Barrie is flustered by all the different pressures he is facing ("Circus of Your Mind").
Seemly defeated, Barrie is visited in his imagination by Captain Hook. A figment of Barrie’s frustrations and strife, Hook convinces Barrie to continue with the play and write him in as the new villain. It is communicated that Hook is a villainous side to Barrie’s personality, but one that he needs nonetheless ("Live by the Hook"). Barrie strides, in his imagination, on a pirate ship with the support of Hook and the pirates. He realizes that he doesn’t need to allow anyone else’s opinion to change his. If he believes in his own work, that's all that truly matters ("Stronger").
At the beginning of act II, the Llewelyn Davies boys visit Barrie at the theater as the company is reluctant and confused, testing some elements of the new play ("The World is Upside Down"). Chales invites the actors to drink at The Swan, a tavern. Sylvia arrives to take the children home. She has heard that Mary left him. The children convince her to go with Barrie to the tavern as Elliott, Frohman’s assistant, takes them home. Sylvia is afraid that she was part of the reason Mary left Barrie, but he assures her that the separation was long in the making. The two play in the empty theater stage with the shadows cast by the ghost light and try to put to words what their relationship means to each other ("What You Mean to Me").
At the tavern, the company is afraid the play will be a failure. Barrie arrives with Sylvia and tells Frohman that they need children in the audience, asking him to keep 25 seats to orphans. Sylvia remarks that Frohman and the actors have forgotten how to play. They reminisce about old times when they used to live more whimsical and free in their youth ("Play").
In the Llewelyn Davies backyard the boys prepare a play of their own, written by Peter, who is afraid he is not a real writer. His brothers tell him to be proud of what he did and encourage him based on what Barrie has been teaching them ("We're All Made of Stars"). Barrie and Sylvia arrive to watch the play. Barrie asks Peter permission to use his name as the protagonist. They start Peter's play, but during the presentation, Sylvia starts to cough very badly, to which she claims it is only a silly chest cold. Barrie sees blood on the handkerchief, but Sylvia refuses to pursue treatment as she does not want the boys to relieve the experience they had with their father and asks Barrie to take care of her children. Barrie takes Sylvia inside and Peter starts destroying the set of the play. Barrie comes back to check on Peter, who lashes out at him, saying that grown ups are always lying and he does not believe that his mother has just a chest cold, for something similar happened to his father. In rage, he tears his play apart from the notebook Barrie gave him. Barrie comforts him, letting him know that life can be difficult but imagination can help him escape for a bit when needed ("When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground").
On opening night the company is very nervous, but Frohman encourages them as they prepare to present Peter Pan ("Something About This Night"). Barrie arrives at the Llewelyn Davies residence to pick up the family to see the play. Mrs. du Maurier stops him at the door and forbids him to see her daughter. George intervenes and lets Barrie in, confronting his grandmother. Sylvia is not feeling well and cannot leave the bed, so the children have decided to stay with her. Barrie decides to stay with them as well and miss the opening night to his own play. Sylvia insists that he goes and takes one of the boys with him, as she wants a full report. Michael, Jack and George insist that Peter should be the one to accompany Barrie. Before he leaves, Sylvia gifts him with his notebook, to which she pasted his play back together.
At the theater, Frohman greets the audience, while at the Llewelyn Davies' residence, Charles, George and Michael prepare to go to sleep while Sylvia and Mrs. du Maurier put them to bed. Barrie and Peter arrive with the whole cast claiming that the theater was just a dress rehearsal, for the real opening night would take place at their residence. Peter says that the main character has his name, but the real Peter Pan is Barrie himself. The company presents the show while the family watches amused as they recognize elements of their times together that inspired the play. Sylvia is sprinkled with fairy dust and flies off with Peter to Neverland ("Neverland (Reprise)").
Barrie appears wearing the back clothes in which he started the first scene, showing that he has been mourning Sylvia. He meets Mrs. du Maurier at the park and she explains to him that Sylvia asked them to have joint guardianship of the boys in her will, which he accepts. Barrie then meets Mary accompanied by Lord Canaan. Mary praises Barrie’s play while Lord Cannan acts childishly. Frohman appears next, claiming they are going to make a lot of money with the success that Peter Pan is, to which Barrie responds that he will donate all the profit to a children's hospital. Peter appear next, holding a play which he is working on. He says he is missing his mother, to which Barrie responds that he can visit her anytime he likes in Neverland. The boys appear next and Jack calls Barrie "father" for the first time. Mrs. du Maurier, seeing with new eyes the positive impact Barrie had on the children, says that Sylvia will keep guiding them from Neverland and is joined by Barrie, the boys and the rest of cast in concluding that make believe can help you navigate the world ("Finale").
On 9 June 2015 Finding Neverland The Album (Songs From The Broadway Musical) was released, featuring covers of the musical's songs by popular artists such as Zendaya, Kiesza, Nick Jonas, Ellie Goulding, Paloma Faith, Jennifer Lopez, Trey Songz, Christina Aguilera, Jon Bon Jovi, Pentatonix, John Legend, Christina Perri, and Goo Goo Dolls. [37] It debuted at number 114 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Cast Albums chart. [38]
The original Broadway cast recording of Finding Neverland was released on 23 June 2015. [39] It debuted at number 84 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Cast Albums chart. [40] [41]
Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
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2015 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Matthew Morrison | Nominated |
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Carolee Carmello | Nominated | ||
Drama League Award | Distinguished Production of a Musical | Nominated | ||
Distinguished Performance | Matthew Morrison | Nominated | ||
Kelsey Grammer | Nominated | |||
Astaire Award | Best Choreographer | Mia Michaels | Nominated | |
Best Female Dancer in a Broadway Show | Melanie Moore | Nominated | ||
Captain James Hook is the main antagonist of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up and its various adaptations, in which he is Peter Pan's archenemy. The character is a pirate captain of the brig Jolly Roger. His two principal fears are the sight of his own blood and the crocodile who pursues him after having previously eaten Captain Hook's hand cut off by Pan. An iron hook that replaced his severed hand has given the pirate his name.
Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several successful novels and plays. There he met the Llewelyn Davies boys, who inspired him to write about a baby boy who has magical adventures in Kensington Gardens, then to write Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, a 1904 West End "fairy play" about an ageless boy and an ordinary girl named Wendy who have adventures in the fantasy setting of Neverland. An intended sequel eventually became the stand alone work Mary Rose, his second most successful play. It was written especially for its leading lady, Fay Compton, who had earlier appeared in productions of Quality Street and Peter Pan.
Finding Neverland is a 2004 biographical film directed by Marc Forster and written by David Magee, based on the 1998 play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee. The film stars Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Radha Mitchell, and Dustin Hoffman, with Freddie Highmore in a supporting role.
Michael Llewelyn Davies was – along with his four brothers – the inspiration for J. M. Barrie's characters Peter Pan, the Darling brothers, and the Lost Boys. Late in life, his only surviving brother Nico described him as "the cleverest of us, the most original, the potential genius." He died in ambiguous circumstances, drowning with a close friend – and possible lover – just short of his twenty-first birthday. He was a first cousin of English writer Daphne du Maurier.
Peter Llewelyn Davies was the middle of five sons of Arthur and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, one of the Llewelyn Davies boys befriended and later informally adopted by J. M. Barrie. Barrie publicly identified him as the source of the name for the title character in his 1904 play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.
George Llewelyn Davies was the eldest son of Arthur and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. Along with his four younger brothers, George was the inspiration for playwright J. M. Barrie's characters of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. The character of Mr. George Darling was named after him. He was killed in action in the First World War. He was the first cousin of the English writer Daphne du Maurier.
Sir Gerald Hubert Edward Busson du Maurier was an English actor and manager. He was the son of author George du Maurier and his wife, Emma Wightwick, and the brother of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. In 1903, he married the actress Muriel Beaumont, with whom he had three daughters: writers Angela du Maurier (1904–2002) and Dame Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989), and painter Jeanne du Maurier (1911–1997). His popularity was due to his subtle and naturalistic acting: a "delicately realistic style of acting that sought to suggest rather than to state the deeper emotions". His Times obituary said of his career: "His parentage assured him of engagements in the best of company to begin with; but it was his own talent that took advantage of them."
Sylvia Jocelyn Busson Llewelyn Davies was the mother of the boys who were the inspiration for the stories of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. She was the daughter of cartoonist and writer George du Maurier and his wife Emma Wightwick, the elder sister to actor Gerald du Maurier, the aunt of novelists Angela and Daphne du Maurier, and a great-granddaughter of Mary Anne Clarke, royal mistress of Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany.
John Llewelyn Davies was the second eldest of the Llewelyn Davies boys, who were befriended by Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie, and one of the inspirations for the boy characters in the story of Peter Pan. He served in the Royal Navy during World War I. Additionally, he was the first cousin of the English writer Daphne du Maurier.
Nicholas "Nico" Llewelyn Davies was the youngest of the Llewelyn Davies boys, who were the inspiration for J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. He was only a year old when Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up hit the stage in 1904, and as such was not a primary inspiration for the characters of Peter and the Lost Boys. However he was eight years old when the novel adaptation Peter and Wendy was published, and in later editions of the play, the character Michael Darling's middle name was changed to "Nicholas". He was the first cousin of the English writer Daphne du Maurier.
Laura Michelle Kelly is an English actress and singer, best known for originating the roles of Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins in the West End, for which she received the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in Finding Neverland on Broadway.
Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical island of Neverland as the leader of the Lost Boys, interacting with fairies, pirates, mermaids, Native Americans, and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside Neverland.
The Davies boys were the inspiration for the stories of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie, in which several of the characters were named after them. They were the sons of Sylvia (1866–1910) and Arthur Llewelyn Davies (1863–1907). Their mother was a daughter of French-born cartoonist and writer George du Maurier and sister of actor Gerald du Maurier, whose daughter was author Daphne du Maurier. Their father was a son of preacher John Llewelyn Davies, and brother of suffragist Margaret Llewelyn Davies.
Peter Pan is a 1954 musical based on J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and his 1911 novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Moose Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Arthur Llewelyn Davies was an English barrister of Welsh origin, but is best known as the father of the boys who were the inspiration for the stories of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie.
The Lost Boys is a 1978 three-part docudrama miniseries produced by the BBC, written by Andrew Birkin, and directed by Rodney Bennett. It is about the relationship between Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies boys.
The works of J. M. Barrie about Peter Pan feature many characters. The numerous adaptations and sequels to those stories feature many of the same characters, and introduce new ones. Most of these strive for continuity with Barrie's work, developing a fairly consistent cast of characters living in Neverland and the real-world settings of Barrie's stories.
Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, often known simply as Peter Pan, is a work by J. M. Barrie, in the form of a 1904 play and a 1911 novel titled Peter and Wendy, often extended as Peter Pan and Wendy. Both versions tell the story of Peter Pan, a mischievous little boy who can fly, and has many adventures on the island of Neverland that is inhabited by mermaids, fairies, Native Americans, and pirates. The Peter Pan stories also involve the characters Wendy Darling and her two brothers John and Michael, Peter's fairy Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, and the pirate Captain Hook. The play and novel were inspired by Barrie's friendship with the Llewelyn Davies family.
Guy Louis Busson du Maurier DSO was an English army officer and playwright. He was the son of the writer George du Maurier and brother of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and the actor Gerald du Maurier.