Royal hunt the last soul alive9/21/2023 This astonishing price was duly paid, but it purchased neither clemency for the subjugated Incas nor freedom for Atahuallpa. The imprisoned Atahuallpa, on learning how greedily greatly the Spaniards esteemed shiny metals, offered a huge ransom to his captors: treasure enough to fill a vast room once with gold and twice over with silver. John Everett Millais, Pizarro Seizing the Inca of Peru, 1846. The Spanish army answered with an ambush, slaughtering the unarmed Incas and capturing their ruler. Atahuallpa agreed to meet Pizarro, and the next day entered Cajamarca’s plaza, accompanied by a large procession. The Inca forces stopped to rest just outside the town of Cajamarca, and there they encountered the Spanish newcomers. His timing was all too fortuitous, as the Spaniards’ arrival coincided with the conclusion of a bloody civil war between two claimants to the Inca throne.įollowing clues of a vast empire glittering with gold, Pizarro and his men crossed the Andes and made their way towards the alleged location of this treasure at the same time, the new Inca emperor, Atahuallpa, was proceeding with his triumphant army towards the Inca capital of Cuzco. The year was 1531, when the conquistador Francisco Pizarro – a bastard in every sense of the word, considered by some to rank among the most evil men in human history – landed with a force in Perú, seeking riches and reputation. Rather, it’s a reimagining of history, which maneuvers two powerful figures into a clash of opposing ideals. Much like George Bernard Shaw’s The Dark Lady of the Sonnets, Royal Hunt uses historical characters and situations, but is not an accurate re-enactment of past events. This epic work, penned by an excessively talented playwright, was picked up by the newly-formed National Theatre and premiered onstage in 1964. (c) whenever Atahuallpa gestures or vocalizes like a non-human creature (with two shots if you can identify the particular bird or animal he’s mimicking).įor appropriate libations, either buy a Spanish wine of origin Ribera del Guadiana (i.e., from the Extremadura region, which includes Pizarro’s birthplace of Trujillo) or make your own chicha de jora, a fermented maize drink that receives brief mention in the play.Īll of Sir Peter Shaffer’s theatrical works grapple with profound questions through the microcosm of human conflict, but none with more terrible allure than The Royal Hunt of the Sun. (b) any time illegitimacy is referenced and/or the word “bastard” used, and (a) Drink every time someone mispronounces a Spanish word, especially “Veedor” (Estete’s title of Overseer, which the actors rhyme with “Seymour”), The two works share illegitimacy, power, and religion as important themes, and both feature a deeply troubled man who takes out his family issues on pagan “savages” and then tries to prove something by killing a god-man.ĭrinking game: I’d suggest saving drinks for a convivial post-film discussion, but here are three rules to guide those who insist otherwise: Like RoS, this film depicts religious, political, and socioeconomic issues resulting from conquest. Also, Oliver Cotton (Lord Owen of Clun) appeared as the soldier Diego de Trujillo in the original 1964 National Theatre production of the play and then played the priest Valverde in its 2006 revival. Relevance to Robin of Sherwood: Michael Craig (the Earl of Huntingdon) plays Miguel Estete, the Royal Overseer, while Robert Shaw (Pizarro) was the Sheriff of Nottingham in the film Robin and Marian (which I’ve mentioned on this blog before). Starring: Robert Shaw as Francisco Pizarro, Christopher Plummer as Atahuallpa. Trivia: Some interesting bits are posted here. Quotes: Quotations from the film are listed here the play script is also widely available. Run time: Originally 121 minutes, but only 96 minutes in most available releases. I hope I have ended up with a contemporary story which uses history only as a groundwork in the expression of its theme.” –Jean Genet, quoted in Shaffer’s original notes on the play. “To see the soul of a man is to be blinded by the sun.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |