Crispian Speech

THIS STORY SHALL THE GOOD MAN TEACH HIS SON
AND CRISPIN CRISPIAN SHALL NE'ER GO BY
FROM THIS DAY FROM THE ENDING OF THE WORLD
BUT WE IN IT SHALL BE REMEMBERED

WE FEW

WE HAPPY FEW


The Crispian Days Speech is one of the most famous speeches of and renowned throughout.
The meaning behind this speech is very important it is a speech that creates patotism, brother hood and courage. The original speech comes from Henry V when he is rounding the troops preparing them for battle.
This speech is very important to We Happy Few because it is set in the similiar context, the fight, a brotherhood and the courage the women had to do what they did and they weren't deterred no matter what was said.

Every memeber of the players has a line of the speech I feel that each word should be said with punch and conviction.
In order for me to understand the power that is needed for this speech I have reviewed previous performances of the speech imparticular Brangahs interpretation.
A video is located at the bottom

Childrens Hour- Radio

At this time the television was not a common feature in the 1940's household. The wireless was put as a high regard and was the only for of entertainment and news.
Helen is a story teller on the radio where she is presenting Children's Hour. Back in the 1940's this is the only for of entertainment that children had, not many households had televsion sets until 1952 when the Queens Coronation occured.

"Our great actors are back on the Westend...bastards!"

During the play many actors are mentioned so I felt necessary to have an understanding of those actors as I know the actors and stars of my time I should know the ones of that time.

Ralph Richardson



Laurence Olivier


John Gielgud


Richardson, Olivier and Gielgud were three of the most renowned English actors of the mid 20th century. They were strongly affiliated with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Old Vic. There roles have included Hamlet, Richard II and Henry V, if not more.
These three have a connection, John Gielgud Directed and produced many films which had the involvement of Richardson and Olivier. So all three worked in close proximity with each other.

Clothes, What to wear?

At this time the pencil skirts where coming in and belts at the waist. This broke away from the straight long flapper dresses of the 1930s. I have pictured Helen as very sophisticated wearing a smart fashionable dress. Diamonds and Pearls I feel is fundamental to Helen's character.


Seamed Stockings!
With the break out of war food, clothing, petrol almost everything was rationed including stockings. At this time ladies were always wearing stockings especially, it was a common trend when you were unable to have a pair of stockings you would imitate stockings with an eyebrow pencil and coffee or some form of tanning agent of the time.

I felt it was important to research this area as it occurs for Helen. I think this just highlights how women had to go to extremes in order to maintain their fashionable status.

Hair styles, What to wear?

During the 1940's the common hairstyle was up and tightly rolled in creating elaborate curls framing the face. This Style I feel spanned off from the shorts bobs and waves of the 1920's and early 30's with the flappers. At the bottom of the page I found a newsreel showing upcoming hair styles of the 1940s.

Personally I have slight obstacle with my hair being so long, however I have experimented with alternative styles.
Using the method-
- Matt up hair
- Twist
- Pin in
- Lots of Hair Spray! :)

Helen Irving- Character Summary

Helen is a strong character however comes across as selfish woman both from other characters and her daughter, Rosalind. I believe that Helen is Stubbs interpretation of actresses of the time ie- Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth.

Rita Hayworth


Bette Davis


Joan Crawford

During the play Helen is compared to showing similiar characteristics to that of Joan Crawford especially her reputation of treating others.
I have done some research on the sort of character Joan Crawford was, as a actress and a mother.
Helen although it indicates that she was once married now it is believe that the married was an un happy one especially for Rosalind and has now dissolved. Joan Crawford herself was married four times in the space of thirty years of which this marriages only lasted between 3-4 years. This suggested to me that Joan Crawford was a woman that got men easily however due to her nature the romance was never long. One may feel sorry for Crawford children having to get use to a new "father figure" every four years. It was said that Crawford treated her children badly physically and emotionally whether this was caused by the pressure of the Hollywood lifestyle and the media always one step behind you or whether it was just who she was. This is very similar to Helen she constantly critcises her daughter finding her weaknesses and never praising. Unlike Joan Crawford at the end Helen restores her relationship with her daughter. Maybe this is the alternative ending to what Crawford could of had with her children, rather than memoirs "Mommie Dearest" which showed the negative and not Crawford's interpretation.

Women during World War 2

We happy few gives an insight of how woman all over the country were doing, stepping into the men's shoes. Mothers,sisters and daughters would become factory workers making arms and ammunition, working on the land, mechanics. Those jobs that been associated with men for centuries now were under the control of women. Today this would seem a normal job but then it was challenge continuing what the men used to do.



Propoganda posters such as this one "Rosie" these were to bring the women from the house and into the fields and factories.