An episode of Australian Plays.
Premise
In a lonely house in the suburbs, three middle-aged sisters are repressed by their mother.
Cast
- Ruth Cracknell as Maggie
- Betty Lucas as Virginia
- Judith Fisher as Stella
- Charles McCallum as Mr Pennfeather
- Moray Powell as Dr Haines
- John Armstrong as Postman
- Don Reid as stationmaster
Production
Written by Pat Flower based on her 1966 novel,produced and directed by John Croyston.
The ABC bought the rights to the novel in November 1967.
When Ruth Cracknell was asked about important works she did in the 1960s and 1970s she said, "I was doing one offs with television, lots of television productions, but they're not of enormous importance. There was a great play an Australian one called Fiends of the Family, by Pat Flower, which I hope the ABC have kept, it was an interesting and rather macabre little piece."
John Croyston told Graham Shirley in a 2004 oral history that Pat Flower was "hot" after winning the award for Tilley Landed On Our Shores so they bought the novel. He said it was "wonderful". Mostly studio with filmed inserts. He says it was received very well. He called Flower "a very unrecognised Australian writer" who he had only heard about because "she won this award".
Reception
It won the 1970 Awgie for best script. The script was published in a collection of scripts.
The Stage said it "proved much better entertainment, although its theme was hackneyed. Three sisters murder their mother, bury her in the garden, mistrust each other and quarrel. The writing was derivative, but the play almost succeeded through the bravado performances of the three sisters Betty Lucas, Ruth Cracknel! and Judith Fisher; but ultimately the in completely conceived characters and the far-fetched story de feated them. "
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| The Stage 24 Dec 1969 |
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| The Age TV Guide 23 oct 1969 p 8 |
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| SMH 24 Nov 1969 TV Guide |
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