Australian TV Plays: AP#2.1 - Eden House (21 June 1970)

First of season two of Australian Plays.

Premise

An aging actress, a widow called Maxine, is haunted by the memory of a son who drowned. Her stepson wants her property. She has a younger lover, Mark.

Cast

Margot Lee as Maxine
John Bonney as Mark
Pat Bishop as Portia
Diana Davidson as Kate
Lyn James as Honor
Don Pascoe as Victor
Philippa Baker as Helen
Jeff Kevin as Bernie

Original play

It was based on a 1969 play by Hal Porter, his third apparently. A review of that play, published in 1970, is here.

It had a run in Melbourne in 1969. This received some Australia Council money. The Melbourne run was successful and the play transferred to Sydney at the Independent that year. A review in the SMH is here.

Other adaptations

It was adapted for radio by the ABC in 1970.

Production

Porter was one of several writers invited to apply for a new ABC drama series produced by Eric Tayler. They were going to make eight. Other writers included Tom Kenealley, Richard Beynon, Morris West and Patrick White. Porter said he was too busy to write something - he was in London supervising the launch of Eden House - but was happy to have a work adapted. This is what seems to have happened.

(Kenealley did write something.. The Survivor which became a TV movie in 1972).

Eric Tayler wanted to use a repertory company of five actors and three actresses.

It was taped at the ABC Studios in Gore Hill Sydney on March 16 to March 19, 1970. Carl Schultz was one of the cameramen.

Eric Tayler directed. He also wrote the adaptation along with Harold Landers.

The script is available on line at the NAA. See here.