Australian TV Plays: The Four Poster (12 August 1964)

Pointless adaptation of a 1951 play by Jan de Hartog. It was the first play done with only two characters for Australian TV.

Premise

The two-character story spans thirty-five years, from 1890 to 1925, as it focuses on the trials and tribulations, laughters and sorrows, and hopes and disappointments experienced by Agnes and Michael throughout their marriage. The set consists solely of their bedroom, dominated by the large fourposter bed in the center of the room.

Among the couple's milestones are the consummation of their marriage, the birth of their first child, Michael's success as a writer, his extramarital affair, their daughter's wedding, and their preparations to move to smaller quarters and pass their home on to another newlywed couple.

Cast

Anne Haddy as Agnes
Alistair Duncan as Michael

Original play

The play debuted on the West End with Rex Harrison and Lili Palmer.

It played on Broadway in 1951 starring Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, directed by Jose Ferrer. Both versions were very popular.

You can read a version here.

Other adaptations

Because the play was so easy to produce it's been very popular to do. There was a 1952 feature film version with Rex Harrison and Lili Palmer. It was also adapted a bunch of times for TV including 1955 in the US.

BBC TV did it in 1961. ITV did it in 1958.

Australian stage performances are listed here.

It was adapted into a stage musical I Do! I Do! in 1966.

Production

It was one of 20 TV plays produced by the ABC in 1964. It had meant to be on in 1961 but was replaced by In Writing.

George F. Kerr adapted it in 1960.

It was shot in Sydney and directed by James Upshaw. Francesca Crespi did the sets. Daphne Harris did the make up.

Anne Haddy and Alistair Duncan had previously appeared together on TV in I Have Been Here Before and A Season in Hell.

The play wasn't filmed live - it had to be done in segments to allow for make up. Upshaw adjusted the sound so the characters sounded older. Upshaw considered the play one of the best written he had directed.

Reception

The critic from the Sydney Morning Herald said "there is no point in pretending that" the play was "important or even honest" being essentially "a family radio serial... but as an exercise in the capacities of two performers to turn from newly married youngsters into nostalgic or ghostly elders, it retains at least a sporting interest."

The Canberra Times wondered why they filmed the play then said "it took only a few minutes of Alastair Duncan in the opening wedding night scenes, how ever, before I was convulsed with laughter and compelled to watch with amazement the revitalization wrought by James Upshaw’s production. The credit for the transformation into such rewarding television was shared by all involved... James Upshaw’s camera placement and cutting was always excitingly right. If any criticism could be made technically it would be that Mr. Upshaw inclined to err on the side or over-direction. "

The Age called it "the drama treat of the year" which "brought tears and laughs".