British TV play by someone called GC Brown.
Premise
In London near the Thames, Miss Tyrell, an elderly vagrant, meets a middle aged suburban housewife and her husband, Mr and Mrs Dexter, in a dockside cafe. The husband has just been awarded a gold watch for long service.
Miss Tyrell prompts the Dexters to rebel against their
life. They realise all the things they've missed.
Cast
- Dorothy Dunkley as Miss Tyrell
- Sophie Stewart as Mrs Dexter, suburban housewife
- Michael Duffield as her husband, Mr Dexter
- John Ewart as taxi driver
- Stewart Ginn
- Peter Morris
- Lou Vernon as Seamus
- James Elliott as seaman
- Olive Walker
- Nat Levison
Original TV play
The play had originally been filmed for British TV in 1961. I think by ITV. It was written by G C Brown.
Production
It was shot in Sydney. Bill Bain directed. It was the last production he made before going to Britain on July 17., He called it "an off beat comedy". Bain said "stewart "is marvellous... at the first reading she had some of the cast in tears. She really was terrific".
Stewart worked with Bain in The Little Women.
Why make it?
Bain imported Michael Duffield from Melbourne.
Dorothy Dunkley, an experienced make up artist, made her TV debut as actor. English stage actor Sophie Stewart also appeared in The Little Woman.
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that "sensitive acting from a small but extremely competent cast triumphed... over rudimentary camera techniques to produce one of the most absorbing plays to appear on Channel 2 for a very long time.... Michael Duffield's characterisation of the retired businessman, still haunted by youthful dreams of adventure, was a completely authentic... Dorothy Dunckley... gave an outstanding portrayal."
The Australian Women's Weekly called it "a most enjoyable TV surprise. The surprise was its standard - miles above the general standard of A.B.C. live plays in acting,production, and story. The story, described as a comedy with a difference,was not so darned comic. It was too real." TV Times said it wa a tragi comedy.
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| The Age Supplement 9 Aug 1962 p 3 |
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| SMH 27 June 1962 p 17 |
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| SMH 18 Jue 1962 p 12 |
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| AWW 11 Jul 1962 p 13 |
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| SMH 25 June 1962 p 11 |
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| SMH 27 June 1962 p 17 |
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| The Age Supplement 9 August 1962 p 2 |
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| The Age 15 August 1962 p 25 |
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| The Age 9 August 1962 p 35 |
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| The Stage 28 June 1962 p 11 |
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