The Two Worlds of William March
In the psyche’s dark recesses
British biographer Roy Simmonds arrives in Mobile, Alabama in 1970 to research the late, reclusive author William March. March is best known for his sensational 1954 novel The Bad Seed about a child murderess, which became a Broadway and Hollywood success after his death in 1954. Simmonds finds that March the author from the 1920s onward lived a separate life as the staid, bespectacled corporate executive William Campbell. His solitary nature and darkly ironic view of humanity can be traced to a troubled, impoverished childhood in the mill towns of South Alabama, but even more to his traumatic turn as a U.S. Marine in World War I. His novel Company K was grimly realistic and widely acclaimed. His other novels and stories express deep skepticism about polite Southern society. Living his last years in New Orleans, William Campbell had his nightly drink on Bourbon Street, while March found solace in his collection of paintings by artist Chaim Soutine — whose horrific images no doubt confirmed his dark view of the human condition.
With scenes from Company K, The Bad Seed, and the short stories “This Heavy Load”, “Happy Jack” and “Flight to Confusion.” David Little, Ari Fliakos, Brett Owen and Molly Parker Myers lead the cast. Original music score composed and performed by Donald Stark.
“March is the unrecognized genius of his time.”
Alistair Cook
March explored the human psyche’s dark recesses. There were no “moonlight and magnolias,” no romantic rhapsodies for Spanish moss, bay breezes and front porches..”
Kevin Lee, Langniappe (2017)
Produced with generous support from the Alabama Humanities Foundation, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Ben May Charitable Trust, A.S. Mitchell Foundation, Daniel Foundation of Alabama, Monte Moorer Foundation, and Mobile Public Library.
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