About the Play:

Mary of Scotland is a full-length verse drama by Maxwell Anderson. The play follows the fortunes of Mary, Queen of Scots, from her arrival in Scotland in 1561 to her imprisonment in England awaiting execution in 1584.

Mary of Scotland focuses on the six years that began when nineteen year old Mary set foot on her unruly land as queen and ended when the last ray of hope faded with the sunset she watched from the window of her prison. It presents her as more than a puppet moving through a pedant's world. Mary is portrayed as a star crossed girl seeking only to live and love and rule and worship as she pleases, bewildered by the intrigue which closed slowly in on her. Elizabeth is pictured as an older, crafty and ambitious queen seeking to remove from her path a gracious, romantic and religious rival.

Mary of Scotland premiered in 1933 on Broadway at The Alvin Theatre starring Helen Hayes. It is rarely performed professionally, but is recommended for high school drama contests and festivals.

Cast: 5 women, 22 men

About the Playwright:

Maxwell Anderson (1888-1956) was an award-winning American playwright and screenwriter. Best known for his Hollywood screen adaptations of his own plays including Key Largo, and Mary of Scotland, he was the most successful playwright of his time and most of his plays, including Mary of Scotland, enjoyed long runs on Broadway. Both Your Houses won the Pulitzer Prize and Winterset and Mary of Scotland won coveted Drama League Awards.