List of Grove Plays

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File:Maynard Dixon - The Apparition of Cuchulainn.jpg
Maynard Dixon's illustration of the 1909 Grove Play St. Patrick at Tara, showing the spirit of Irish hero Cuchulainn appearing to Saint Patrick among the Redwood trees of Northern California

The Grove Play is an annual theatrical production written, produced and performed by and for Bohemian Club members, and staged outdoors in California at the Bohemian Grove each summer.

In 1878, the Bohemian Club of San Francisco first took to the woods for a summer celebration that they called midsummer High Jinks.[1] Poems were recited, songs were sung, and dramatic readings were given. In 1881, the ceremony of the Cremation of Care was first conducted after the various individual performances.[2] Eventually, the readings and songs were woven into a theme or framework, such as in the solemn Orientalism-themed Buddha Jinks of 1892 and the Christianity-triumphs-over-paganism-themed Druid Jinks the next year.[3] In 1897, the Faust Jinks were constructed within the musical form of Charles Gounod's opera Faust.[4] Finally, in 1902, both the music and the libretto were composed by club members, setting the "Bohemian grove-play as a distinct genre of stage art."[4]

Each year a Sire and a musical Sire are selected by the club's Jinks Committee, part of the club's Board of Directors.[5] The Sire is responsible for producing the script and libretto of the Grove Play, and the musical Sire composes the music. The Sire may select others to write the dialog and song lyrics, but remains responsible for the overall theme and final form of the spectacle.

File:Sketch of Bohemian Grove Main Stage by Porter Garnett.jpg
A 1911 sketch of the Grove Play stage, showing extensive upstage pathways and platforms amid the ferns and redwood trees

In the earliest productions of the Grove Play, several restrictions were imposed upon the Sire including that the stage setting be the natural forest backdrop and that the "malign character Care" be introduced in the plot, to wreak havoc with the characters and then be faced down and vanquished by the hero.[6] In these early productions, the Cremation of Care immediately followed, and lasted until midnight.[7] The end of the ceremony was signaled by a lively Jinks Band rendition of There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight,[8] and the club members sat down to a late dinner and revelry into the wee hours.[9]

From 1913, the Cremation of Care was disengaged from the Grove Play, and rescheduled for the first night of the summer encampment. The Grove Play was set for the final weekend.[10] A different Sire was appointed for the Cremation, and some concerns were raised in subsequent years that the Cremation of Care was growing into its own secondary Grove Play. Some Sires experimented with a satirical treatment, or topical themes such as a patriotic World War I treatment in 1918 and an unpopular Prohibition script in 1919. "Care" was not killed, let alone cremated, in the 1922 version. In response to member complaints about the unpredictable quality of the opening night fare, Charles K. Field was asked in 1923 to write the script for what became the basis for every subsequent Cremation of Care ceremony.[11]

File:1909 Grove Play dress rehearsal.jpg
A 1909 photograph of the dress rehearsal of St. Patrick at Tara, showing the natural forest setting including switchback pathways extending the stage rearward up a hillside

From 1902 to 1923, a central theme of most Grove Plays was the mystique of the ancient Coast Redwood tree grove.[12] Jack London wrote The Acorn Planter: A California Forest Play for the High Jinks but it was never staged; it was described as too difficult to set to music.[13] Beginning around 1920 with the installation of a large Austin pipe organ, the productions became more professional in tone.[14] In 1922, a sophisticated lighting system was installed at the Main Stage, the venue for the Grove Play.[1] During the World War II years 1943–1945, no Grove Plays were staged.

Unusual performances include the 1906 production of The Owl and Care, which is listed in Grove's dictionary as "Not strictly a Grove-Play."[15] The Triumph of Bohemia was already planned, but the 1906 San Francisco earthquake changed the club's priorities in favor of a more elaborate cremation ceremony called The Owl and Care.[15] Two plays have been staged twice for the club members: St. Patrick at Tara in 1909 and 1934, and A Gest of Robin Hood in 1929 and 1954. 1912's The Atonement of Pan was performed once for club members and again two weeks later for members' wives and women friends. In 2008, the treatment of The Count of Monte Cristo was staged even though it had been published four years prior.

The cast for a Grove Play averages 75–100 actors, many appearing as so-called "spear carriers" in crowd scenes.[16] Roles for female characters are played by men,[17] since women are not allowed as members of the Bohemian Club. Including orchestra members, costumers, stage crew and carpenters, some 300 people are involved with the production each year.[18] The cost of each play was reported in the range of $20,000–30,000 in 1975, as much as $Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[".,000 in current value. No salaries are given to club members who take part and no admission is charged the audience.[18] Rehearsals begin a year in advance.[18]

Observers have characterized the Grove Plays as massive, predictable and slow. Author John van der Zee has described the Grove Plays as "lumbering pageants."[19] Commenting on the plot, he said, "We know in advance that the hero will be a king or commander adored by his men, and that he will see his duty and do it."[19] Journalist Philip Weiss, writing in 1989 for Spy magazine, said that the high point of the two-week summer encampment was the "vigorously lowbrow" Low Jinks, a musical comedy staged during the middle weekend, not the "mannered and ponderous Grove Play."[20] Journalism professor Richard Reinhardt argued in 1980 that the showy bombast of Broadway theatre producer David Belasco helped form in the early Grove Plays a taste for majestic and astounding visual effects, and that this aesthetic sense has continued to the present in a form of "institutional inertia."[21]

Year Playwright Title Composer Sire Ref.
1902
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Man In The Forest, A Legend of the Tribe Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [22]
1903
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Montezuma Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [23]
1904
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Hamadryads: A Masque of Apollo Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [24]
1905
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Quest of the Gorgon, A Musical Drama Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [25]
1906
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Owl and Care, A Spectacle Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [26]
1907
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Triumph of Bohemia: A Forest Play Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [27]
1908
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Sons of Baldur: A Forest Music-Drama Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [28]
1909
 Script error: No such module "Sort". St. Patrick at Tara Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [29]
1910
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Cave Man, A Play of the Redwoods Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [29]
1911
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Green Knight, A Vision Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [29]
1912
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Atonement of Pan, A Music-Drama Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [29]
1913
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Fall of Ug: A Masque of Fear Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [30]
1914
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Nec-Natama (Comradeship): A Forest Play Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [31]
1915
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Apollo, A Music-Drama Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [30]
1916
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Gold, A Forest Play Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [30]
1917
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Land of Happiness, A Music-Drama Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [30]
1918
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Twilight of the Kings Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
1919
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Life Script error: No such module "Sort". [32]
1920
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Ilya of Murom Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [33]
1921
 Script error: No such module "Sort". St. John of Nepomuk Script error: No such module "Sort". [34]
1922
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Rout of the Philistines, A Forest Play Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [35]
1923
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Semper Virens Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1924
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Rajvara Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1925
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Wings Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1926
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Truth, A Grove Play Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1927
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Saint Francis of Assisi Script error: No such module "Sort". [37]
1928
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Nanda Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1929
 Script error: No such module "Sort". A Gest of Robin Hood Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1930
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Birds of Rhiannon Script error: No such module "Sort". [38]
1931
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Joan Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1932
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Sorcerer's Drum Script error: No such module "Sort".
1933
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Legend of Hani Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1934
 Script error: No such module "Sort". St. Patrick at Tara Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1935
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Quest Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1936
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Ivanhoe Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1937
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Lifkronan Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1938
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Piper Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1939
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Golden Feather Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1940
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Saul Script error: No such module "Sort". [36]
1941
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Golden Talisman Script error: No such module "Sort". [39]
1942
 Script error: No such module "Sort".
Script error: No such module "Sort". 		The American Scene Script error: No such module "Sort". [40]
1946
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Johnny Appleseed Script error: No such module "Sort".
1947
 The Yester-Years (a compilation of past Grove Play scenes)
1948
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Maternus Script error: No such module "Sort".
1949
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Cosmic Jest Script error: No such module "Sort".
1950
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Tetecan Script error: No such module "Sort".
1951
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Fools in the Forest Script error: No such module "Sort".
1952
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Tandem Triumphans Script error: No such module "Sort".
1953
 Script error: No such module "Sort". A Romany Legend Script error: No such module "Sort".
1954
 Script error: No such module "Sort". A Gest of Robin Hood Script error: No such module "Sort".
1955
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Don Quijote, an Adventure of that Ingenious Gentlemen of La Mancha Script error: No such module "Sort". [41]
1956
 Gordon Steedman

Philip Boone

The Beggar Script error: No such module "Sort".
1957
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Diablo Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
1958
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Aloha Oe Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
1959
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Cortez Script error: No such module "Sort".
1960
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Rip Van Winkle Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [42]
1961
 Script error: No such module "Sort". A Soldier and Mr. Lincoln Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
1962
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Agincourt Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [43]
1963
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Green Mountain Boys Script error: No such module "Sort".
1964
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Buccaneers: a Grove Play based on Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
1965
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Sancho Panza Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [44]
1966
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Valley of the Moon Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [45]
1967
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Will Script error: No such module "Sort".
1968
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Omar Script error: No such module "Sort".
1969
 Script error: No such module "Sort". St. John of Bohemia Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [46]
1970
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Bonny Cravat Script error: No such module "Sort". [47]
1971
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Red is the Grass Script error: No such module "Sort".
1972
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Centennial Grove Play, (1872–1972) Script error: No such module "Sort".
1973
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Golden Cave Script error: No such module "Sort".
1974
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Armada Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [48]
1975
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Allegory: An Odyssey in Time and Space Script error: No such module "Sort". [49]
1976
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Noah Script error: No such module "Sort".
1977
 Script error: No such module "Sort". El Dorado Script error: No such module "Sort".
1978
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Siddhartha Script error: No such module "Sort".
1979
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Flying Spear Script error: No such module "Sort".
1980
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Olympus Script error: No such module "Sort".
1981
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Taj Mahal
1982
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Saint Francis of Assisi Script error: No such module "Sort". [50]
1983
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Ciao Venezia Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
1984
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Maximilian! Script error: No such module "Sort".
1985
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Solferino Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
1986
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Galileo Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [51]
1987
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Talleyrand
1988
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Robert the Bruce Script error: No such module "Sort".
1989
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Pompeii Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [52]
1990
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Prophecy Script error: No such module "Sort".
1991
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Tyburn Fair Script error: No such module "Sort".
1992
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Cristoforo Columbo Script error: No such module "Sort".
1993
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Qin Shihuang-Di; The First Emperor Script error: No such module "Sort".
1994
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Leonardo Betrayal Script error: No such module "Sort". [53]
1995
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Marco Polo Script error: No such module "Sort". [54]
1996
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Runnymede Script error: No such module "Sort".
1997
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Time and Again: A Compendium of Highlights from Grove Plays over the Years Script error: No such module "Sort".
1998
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Alexandre Dumas and His Musketeers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1999
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Merlin Script error: No such module "Sort".
2000
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Je suis Lafitte Script error: No such module "Sort".
2001
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Marius of the Populares
2002
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Emperor Norton Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
2003
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Fort Ross Script error: No such module "Sort".
2004
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Concord Fight Script error: No such module "Sort".
2005
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Bully! Script error: No such module "Sort".
2006
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Allegory Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
2007
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Leprechaun Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
2008
 Script error: No such module "Sort". The Count of Monte Cristo
2009
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Gaijin Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
2010
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Atlantis Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
2011
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Casanova Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort". [55]
2012
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Tchaikovsky's Masque Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
2013
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Longbow Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
2014
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Rama Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
2015
 Script error: No such module "Sort". Kidnapped Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
2016
 Charles L. Morey The Booth brothers
2017
 Dick Christie The shores of Tripoli
2018
 W. Blake Winchell Remember
2019
 Kenneth Baggott Grendl
2020 none canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[56]

References

Notes

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  1. ↑ a b Ogden, 1990, p. 28.
  2. ↑ Garnett, 1908, pp. 19–20.
  3. ↑ Garnett, 1908, pp. 20–21.
  4. ↑ a b Garnett, 1908, p. 22.
  5. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 23.
  6. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 25.
  7. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 27.
  8. ↑ Ogden, 1990, p. 25.
  9. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 30.
  10. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 36.
  11. ↑ Garnett, 1908, pp. 37–39.
  12. ↑ Ogden, 1990, p. 19.
  13. ↑ Taylor, J. Golden. A Literary history of the American West, Western Literature Association, TCU Press, 1987, p. 394. Template:ISBN
  14. ↑ Ogden, 1990, p. 30.
  15. ↑ a b Pratt, Waldo Selden; George Grove; Charles Newell Boyd; John Alexander Fuller-Maitland. Grove's dictionary of music and musicians, Volume Six, 1920, p. 221.
  16. ↑ Newman, David M. Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life : Readings, SAGE Publications, 1999, p. 234. Template:ISBN
  17. ↑ Ogden, 1990, p. 35.
  18. ↑ a b c Domhoff, 1975, p. 10.
  19. ↑ a b SFGate.com, July 18, 2004. Adair Lara, Members only: S.F.'s exclusive clubs carry on traditions of fellowship, culture -- and discrimination. Retrieved on June 29, 2009.
  20. ↑ Philip Weiss, Masters of the Universe Go to Camp: Inside the Bohemian Grove. Spy Magazine, November 1989. Retrieved on June 29, 2009.
  21. ↑ AmericanHeritage.com, June/July 1980. Richard Reinhardt, The Bohemian Club Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Retrieved on June 29, 2009.
  22. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 46.
  23. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 52.
  24. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 59.
  25. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 67.
  26. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 73.
  27. ↑ Garnett, 1908, p. 78.
  28. ↑ Scheffauer, Herman George; Arthur Weiss; Bohemian Club. The Sons of Baldur, Bohemian Club, 1908.
  29. ↑ a b c d Bohemian Club. The grove plays of the Bohemian Club, Volume II. (1918), Retrieved June 27, 2009.
  30. ↑ a b c d Bohemian Club. The grove plays of the Bohemian Club (1918), Retrieved June 27, 2009.
  31. ↑ Internet Archive. Nec-natama (Comradeship), a forest play (1914) Retrieved on June 27, 2009.
  32. ↑ Wilson, Harry Leon; Domenico Brescia; Bohemian Club. Life, Bohemian Club, 1919.
  33. ↑ Dobie, Charles Caldwell; Bohemian Club. Ilya of Murom. (1920), Retrieved June 27, 2009.
  34. ↑ Greene, Clay Meredith; Humphrey John Stewart; Bohemian Club. St. John of Nepomuk, The Nineteenth Grove Play, July 30, 1921.
  35. ↑ Bohemian Club. The Rout of the Philistines, A Forest Play (1922), Retrieved June 27, 2009.
  36. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Purrington, Benjamin Allen; Charles Hart; Bohemian Club. Saul, 1940.
  37. ↑ Pichel, Irving; Charles Hart; Bohemian Club. Saint Francis of Assisi, 1927
  38. ↑ Young, Waldemar; Edward Harris; Bohemian Club. Birds of Rhiannon, A Grove Play, performed Saturday night August 2, 1930.
  39. ↑ Dobie, Charles Caldwell; Alec Templeton; Bohemian Club. The Golden Talisman, A Grove Play. 1941.
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Case, Alexander T.; Ulderico Marcelli; Bohemian Club. Don Quijote, an Adventure of that Ingenious Gentlemen of La Mancha, performed July 30, 1955
  42. ↑ Totheroh, Dan; Charles Hart; Bohemian Club. Rip Van Winkle, the Fifty-fifth Grove Play, 1960
  43. ↑ Tourtillot, True; Robert England; Alexander S. McDill. Agincourt, the Fifty-seventh Grove Play. 1962
  44. ↑ Harline, Leigh; Alexander T. Case; Thomas J. Tyrrell; Bohemian Club. Sancho Panza, the Sixtieth Grove Play. 1965
  45. ↑ Hackett, Raymond W.; Ralph Moody; Bohemian Club. The Valley of the Moon, the Sixty-first Grove Play. 1966
  46. ↑ Harline, Leigh; Neill Compton Wilson; Thomas J. Tyrell (director); Lawrence J. Rehag (illustrations); Bohemian Club. St. John of Bohemia, the sixty-fourth Grove play of the Bohemian Club as performed by its members in the Bohemian Grove, July 26, 1969.
  47. ↑ Magee, David Bickersteth; George Shearing; Bohemian Club. The Bonny Cravat, the Sixty-fifth Play of the Bohemian Club Presented at the Grove, July 31, 1970.
  48. ↑ Wood, Dale; John Brent Mills; Bohemian Club. Armada, the Sixty-ninth Grove Play of the Bohemian Club, Presented July 26, 1974.
  49. ↑ Parker, Will A.; Carl J. Eberhard; Peter R. Arnott; Bohemian Club. Allegory: An Odyssey in Time and Space, the seventieth Grove Play of the Bohemian Club presented to its members in the Bohemian Grove July 25, 1975.
  50. ↑ Pichel, Irving; Charles Hart; Andrew Hoyem; Jay M. Jacobus; Bohemian Club. Saint Francis of Assisi, 1982
  51. ↑ Archive.org. Regional Oral History Office University of California. William W. Schwarzer, Litigator, federal district judge, director of the Federal Judicial Center, and professor, 1952-1997 : oral history transcript / 1998. Retrieved on July 2, 2009.
  52. ↑ Blauer, John M.; David A. Bowman; Rod McManigal; Thomas J Tyrrell; Bohemian Club. Pompeii, the Eighty-fourth Grove Play, presented July 28, 1989.
  53. ↑ McCandless, E. R. "Mac" ; Kenneth B. Baggott; Jay M. Jacobus; Bohemian Club. The Leonardo Betrayal, the eighty-ninth Grove Play presented on Friday, July 29, 1994.
  54. ↑ McManigal, Rod; Jack Rogers; Thomas J. Tyrrell; Bohemian Club. Marco Polo, The ninetieth Grove Play presented Friday, July 28, 1995.
  55. ↑ Evans, Richard B.; Ervin, Howard Guy; Devine, Peter Merle; Stegmiller, Kenneth Lawrence. Casanova, The Bohemian Club, 2011. Volume 106 of Grove Play.
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Bibliography

Template:Bohemian Club

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