Australian TV Plays: The End Begins (22 March 1961)

A rare Australian TV play with a sci-fi bent.

Premise

On an island off the west coast of Great Britain, a group of survivors of World War Three struggle to continue living. Hugh Packenham foresaw the oncoming conflict and fled to the island. His only neighbours are fisherman Shaun O'Donnell and his wife Barbara.

Then other survivors seek refuge, including an African American sailor, Hank Christians, a young English girl, Valerie, bank clerk Tom and Doctor Wincott.

Last to arrive is Smithers, who has witnessed what life is like on the mainland.

Conflicts develop.

Cast

Don Crosby as Hugh Pakenham
Joe Jenkins as Hank Christians, an American serviceman
Douglas Kelly as Shaun O'Donnell
Barbara Brandon as Mrs O'Donnell
Fay Kelton as Valerie Hollis, a young English girl
Keith Hudson as Tom Jarrow, a bank clerk
Syd Conabere as Dr Wincot
Kenrick Hudson as Commander Ridgwell
James Lynch as Petty Officer Marks
David Mitchell as Seaman Wells
Edward Brayshaw as Smithers
Elizabeth Goodman as woman

Original play

It was based on a British TV play by Ray Rigby, who wrote it in collaboration with his wife Jean when working as a booking clerk at Victoria station. He submitted it to the BBC and they filmed it in 1956 in a production starring Earl Cameron. It went for 90 minutes.

Rigby later became well known for writing The Hill. His papers include an inventory for a screenplay around 1970 - presumably this was an unmade project.

Other adaptations

Apparently it was also a stage play with Cameron that was staged in Feb 1956.

His play was later adapted for Australian radio in 1964.

Production

The production was filmed in Melbourne. It was William Sterling's first production after returning to Australia following a trip overseas.

Sterling said prior to broadcast to the TV Times:

This is perhaps the most controversial play the ABC has attempted on television. There are a number of dramatic developments that which are not comfortable, easy-way-out solutions of many of the moral and political problems of everyday life. The author's treatment is adult in every sense. This is the type of play television handles best. In fact, this is the first play in a long time that has made such a dramatic comment on contemporary affairs.

The set was created by Douglas Smith who did the designs for Stormy Petrel.He traveled to Melbourne to do the job.

The cast included Joe Jenkins, a black American actor and dancer who came to Australia with the Katherine Dunham Dance Company and decided to stay. He was one of the few black actors to play a lead role in Australia at that time.

Rehearsals took place at Christ Church Hall in St Kilda. Some external scenes were used.

It was transmitted on 22 March.

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald said it "had the merit of exploratory camera work" and called it "quite imaginative".