title: Variation on a Theme (play)
text: # Variation on a Theme (play)
  
  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.
  
  ## 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 [sic]."
  