''Johnson Over Jordan'' is a play by

J.B. Priestley John Boynton Priestley (; 13 September 1894 – 14 August 1984) was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster and social commentator. His Yorkshire background is reflected in much of his fiction, notably in ''The Good Compa ...

. ''Johnson Over Jordan'' focuses on Robert Johnson, a meek businessman who has recently died. Now in limbo, Johnson looks back over his life while trying to reach the Inn at the End of World. On the way, he encounters the Central Offices of Universal Assurance and Global Loan and Finance Corporation and the Jungle Hot Spot nightclub. The play marked a departure from the naturalistic dramas that had established Priestley's reputation as a playwright, and at the time of its completion he considered it his finest and most ambitious work to date, describing it as his ‘adventure in theatre’. It reflects the author's interest in the time theories of

J. W. Dunne John William Dunne (2 December 1875 – 24 August 1949) was a British soldier, aeronautical engineer and philosopher. As a young man he fought in the Second Boer War, before becoming a pioneering aeroplane designer in the early years of the 20t ...

and P. D. Ouspensky, as well as

Carl Jung Carl Gustav Jung ( ; ; 26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and psychologist who founded the school of analytical psychology. A prolific author of Carl Jung publications, over 20 books, illustrator, and corr ...

’s model of the unconscious.J B Priestley Society. ''Johnson Over Jordan''
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Production history

''Johnson Over Jordan'' was originally produced in 1939, directed by

Basil Dean Basil Herbert Dean CBE (27 September 1888 – 22 April 1978) was an English actor, writer, producer and director in the theatre and in cinema. He founded the Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool Repertory Company in 1911 and in the First World War, a ...

and with

Ralph Richardson Sir Ralph David Richardson (19 December 1902 – 10 October 1983) was an English actor who, with John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier, was one of the trinity of male actors who dominated the British stage for much of the 20th century. He wo ...

in the lead role as Robert Johnson. It was accompanied by an original score from the young

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, o ...

, with musical direction and some of the orchestrations by Ernest Irving."Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)– Paul Bunyan Overture, Piano Concerto, Johnson Over Jordan (Suite)"
, Naxos Records, accessed 12 January 2014 The play soon closed, but then transferred to the

Saville Theatre The Saville Theatre building is a former West End theatre and cinema at 135 Shaftesbury Avenue in the London Borough of Camden. The theatre opened in 1931, and became a music venue during the 1960s. In 1970, it became a cinema, most recently a ...

for a further short run after some revisions. Paul Taylor has described it as "his most high-profile flop". The number of productions since its 1939 debut have been limited due to the challenges of staging its dance sequences and ballet, elaborate costumes and masks (designed in 1939 by

Elizabeth Haffenden Elizabeth Haffenden (18 April 1906 – 29 May 1976) was a British costume designer. She is recognized for her prolific work across stage and screen. She is best known for creating costumes for most of the Gainsborough melodramas. Haffenden receiv ...

), and complex stage effects and lighting. The BBC revived the play for television in February 1965, with Ralph Richardson re-creating his original rôle. But the first professional revival in the theatre for over 50 years came in 2001 at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, where it was directed by Jude Kelly with

Patrick Stewart Sir Patrick Stewart (born 13 July 1940) is an English actor. With a career spanning over seven decades of Patrick Stewart on stage and screen, stage and screen, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Patrick Stewart, variou ...

in the title role."Enterprising trek to Priestley's strange new world"
''The Daily Telegraph'', accessed 12 January 2014

Amateur performances

In 1976, The joint Dramatic Society of

King Edward's School, Birmingham King Edward's School (KES) is an independent school (UK), independent day school for boys in the British Public school (UK), public school tradition, located in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Founded by Edward VI of England, King Edward VI in 1552, it ...

and

King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS) is an all-girls public school (United Kingdom), public school located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. It was founded in 1883 and occupies the same site as, and is twinned with the King Edward's Scho ...

gave five performances of the play for the Schools' annual Senior Production. It was directed by Michael Birks. Johnson was played by Richard Horwood. In February 2014

Bradford Grammar School Bradford Grammar School (BGS) is a co-educational private day school located in Frizinghall, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Entrance is by examination. For the sixth form admission is based on GCSE results. The school gives means-tested ...

was another amateur group to have performed the play, with Daniel Sanderson taking the title role of Robert Johnson. Tom Priestley, the son of J.B. Priestley, came to see the performance and commented: "Brilliant, absolutely magnificent to see such talent and my dad would have been proud." In December 2017, NLCS Jeju has also performed the play, for three days, from 5th to 7th, directed by Yeongwoo Lee, Linus Kim, Hyun Hoi Koo, Skylar Shen, Jaehong Lim, and Judy Song, and the main leads who played Johnson are Judy Song, Jeyoon Eom and Skylar Shen.

Notes

References

* {{cite book, editor-last= Gaye, editor-first=Freda , year= 1967, title=Who's Who in the Theatre , edition=fourteenth, location=London , publisher=Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons , oclc=5997224 Plays by J. B. Priestley 1939 plays West End plays