Australian TV Plays: Nude with Violin (8 April 1964)

ABC does Noel Coward. Adapted by Laurence Collinson.

Premise

In Paris in 1856 a famous artist, Paul Sorodin, has died. His estranged wife Isobel and children Jane and Son, plus daughter in law Pamela, arrive from London for his funeral.

Accompanied by Sordin's manager, Jacob they arrive to discover the apartment is occupied by Sordin's valet, Sebastien. Sorodin has died intestate and all except Jane are in favour of getting rid of Sebastian immediately. Jane insists he must be given either a lump sum of money or a pension and Friedland, mindful of the scandals Sebastian could uncover if he decided to talk to the press about Sorodin's unconventional past, persuades the others to agree with her. But when they summon Sebastian to make their big gesture, he astounds them by refusing their offer. He reveals a letter concerning the authenticity of Sorodin's pictures.

Cast

Terry Norris as Sebastien Lacreole
Gerda Nicolson as Jane Sorodin
Julia Blake as Pamela
Alex Varadi as Jacob Friedland
Roma Johnstone as Anya Pavalikov
Barbara Brandon as Isobel Sorodin
Brian Hansford as Obadiah Lelwellyn
Terence Donovan as Clinton Preminger
Follie Settees as Cherry May
Karl Lukk as Fabrice
Nick Sofokles as Lauderdale

Original play

Coward's play debuted in 1956. It's not regarded as one of his classics but was one of his better-performing post-war works.

A link to the play is here.

Australian Robert Helpmann played the lead role for a time in London and then in Australia.

Other adaptations

It was filmed by the BBC in 1956.

Production

It was one of 20 TV plays produced by the ABC in 1964. Laurence Collinson adapted the script.

Terry Norris played the role performed on stage in England by John Gielgud and Robert Helpmann in Australia. I wonder why they picked this Coward play? Maybe the Helpman connection.

It was Gerda Nicholson's TV debut.

It was designed by Alan Clarke. He also painted the picture, Nude with Violin, which gives the play its title. He described it as a tongue in cheek, satirical modern painting.

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald said the production "could do no more than echo the play's half-hearted efforts... the cast that took part looked unconvinced with the desperately contrived situations."

The Canberra Times said "overwork might explain a production of Nude With Violin that did little for Mr. Muir’s already considerable reputation, in spite of his youth.In any case, it would take a miracle worker to make something amusing or interesting out of this mediocre comedy. Indeed, Chris Muir’s sardonic theme music was funnier than Noel Coward’s dialogue. Any other suggestion ofMuir’s customary ingenuity and rescourcefulness wass ought in vain. The Melbourne cast gave performances ranging from competent (Julia Blake and Gerda Nicholson) to conventional (Terry Norris -who has the lead in Luther.)"

TV Times called it "pitifully poor".