Australian TV Plays: Elizabeth Refuses (5 Feb 1957)

One of the earliest Australian TV dramas was based on a play adapted from Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen abridged! The ABC actually didn't do that much Jane Austen which was, in hindsight, surprising. Maybe too many location changes.

I think this was the 5th live TV drama from the ABC in Sydney. Unlike Twelve Pound Look there doesn't seem to have been a Melbourne production. Maybe they were getting sick of that method already.

Premise

In the Bennet house, Mrs Bennet wishes for her two sisters, Elizabeth and Jane, to be married. Elizabeth has turned down a proposal from Mr Darcy (who is never seen).

Mr Collins, a clergyman who is heir to Mr Bennet's estate, arrives seeking a bride. He is initially interested in Jane, but Mrs Bennet tells him that Jane is spoken for. He then expresses interest in Elizabeth. He attempts to propose to Elizabeth but refuses, which upsets Mrs Bennet.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr Collins' patron and Mr Darcy's aunt, arrives. She has heard of Darcy's proposal to Elizabeth and wants to know the truth behind it, as Darcy is meant to be engaged to Lady Catherine's daughter. Elizabeth refuses to promise that she will never marry Darcy. Lady Catherine lets slip that Darcy intends to call on the Bennetts that afternoon, then leaves.

The play ends with Jane and Elizabeth excited about Catherine's visit.

Cast

* Joan Lord as Elizabeth Bennett

* Norman Cull as Mr Collins

* Catherine Neill as Lady de Bourgh

* Betty Lucas as Jane Bennet

* Ailsa Grahame as Mrs. Bennet

Original Play

Margaret MacNamara wrote the original play which was subtitled "A Miniature Comedy from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice".

The play may date back to 1926. See here.

I found a complete copy of the play from a 1926 collection at Internet Archive here.

This edition contains some stage directions from Miss MacNamara:

The essentials of the scene, are an exit to the library and another to the hall ; both are up-stage, and can be adequately represented by gaps between screens on either side and the back wall. The dark panelling which surrounds the stage in some halls would make an excellent background, and if there are no suitable exits a dark screen on either side will provide the necessary cover for the characters when they are off stage. If there is no panelling, a surround of dark curtains would be admirable - in fact, the costumes of this period never look better than against black velvet. A front curtain is not needed. The author suggests that, if there is none, at the end of the play Jane should not enter, but Elizabeth should go out, calling Jane.

Thoughts

I haven't seen the production or read the script but I have read the original play. It's fun, a cute twist on Pride and Prejudice. We don't see Mr Darcy though - and isn't the heart of that book seeing those two go each other? Sure, it's entertaining to see Mr Collins blather and satisfying to watch Elizabeth tell Lady Catherine to get stuffed... but the whole thing feels like a trailer for a longer project rather than something that stands on its own two feet.

One can imagine how this was approved by the ABC, though. "It's Pride and Prejudice... come on..."

Other adaptations

It was performed on stage in Melbourne in 1935. It was popular amongst amateur societies.

I don't think it was adapted by the BBC.

Production

In September 1956 the ABC Weekly reported the play was being shot at the ABC's Drama Workshop.

It was filmed in Sydney and was directed by William Sterling, who became one of the major drama directors during the early days of Australian TV (though mostly in Melbourne, where he moved in the late 1950s).

Joan Lord had been in The Twelve Pound Look.

The TV version ran for 30 minutes.