Variation on a Theme is a 1958 play by the British writer Terence Rattigan. It is a reworking of Alexandre Dumas, fils's nineteenth century novel and subsequent play La Dame aux Camélias.Pattie p.232
Original production Directed by John Gielgud, the play opened (after a pre-London tour), at the Globe Theatre, London, on 8 May 1958, with the following cast: Hettie - Jean Anderson Rose - Margaret Leighton Ron - Jeremy Brett Kurt - George Pravda Fiona - Felicity Ross Adrian - Lawrence Dalzell Mona - Mavis Villiers Sam - Michael Goodliffe
Reception While not received well by the critics, the play ran for 132 performances. Kenneth Tynan wrote in The Observer:"As far as I could see the star of the show was Norman Hartnell, from whose contributions – a white diamanté sack, a shocking-pink cocktail dress in pleated chiffon, a casual ensemble of blouse and pedal-pushing slacks, and a two-tiered ball-gown in navy-blue pebble-crèpe – the lean extremities of Margaret Leighton nervously protuded ."
1966 TV adaptation The play was adapted for British television in 1966.Variation on a Theme at IMDB
Cast Irene Worth a Rose Gary Bond as Ron Catherine Lacey as Hettie Grant Taylor as Kurt John Bailey as Sam Helen Horton as Mona
References
Bibliography David Pattie. Modern British Playwriting: The 1950s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. 2013.