Observations on The Ruling Class

By Rom Watson
c. December, 2000 and February 1, 2015

The Ruling Class is the most well-known play by English playwright Peter Barnes, having been made into a 1972 film featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Peter O’Toole.  (Barnes’ play Red Noses is equally fine but is seldom performed.)

While reading the reviews of the current West End revival of The Ruling Class starring James McAvoy, I was reminded of a comparison chart I drew up in December of 2000.

Is it just me, or do these two casts of characters contain parallels?

The Ruling Class, by Peter Barnes
13th Earl of Gurney
Toastmaster
Daniel Tucker
Bishop Lampton
Sir Charles Gurney
Dinsdale Gurney
Lady Claire Gurney
Matthew Peake
14th Earl of Gurney
Dr. Paul Herder
Mrs. Treadwell
Mrs. Piggot-Jones
Grace Shelley
McKyle
McKyle’s Assistant
Keso Truscott, Q.C.
Inspector Brockett
Insprector Fraser
First Lord
Second Lord
Third Lord[/column] [column size=”1-3″ last=”0″ style=”0″]

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare
Ghost (Hamlet’s Father)
A Gentleman
Polonius
A Priest
Claudius
Horatio
Gertrude
Reynaldo
Hamlet
Laertes
Rosencrantz
Guildenstern
Ophelia
Fortinbras
Francisco
Osric
Marcellus
Bernardo
First Lord
Second Lord
Third Lord
[/column] Their Function in the Play
Dies so the story can begin
Peer of the realm
Older; seen as rather a fool
Religious man
Brother of the prince’s father
Eager, earnest, helpful
Mother figure, but still sexual
Servant
A “prince”, but is he sane?
Has a duel with the prince
A pawn
A pawn
Love interest of the prince
Enters late and takes over
Servant
Small but pivotal role
Officer
Officer
Peer of the realm
Peer of the realm
Peer of the realm[column size=”1-3″ last=”1″ style=”0″]