TV Plays

The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza is a 1928 play by George Bernard Shaw. It is a satirical comedy about several political philosophies which are expounded by the characters, often in lengthy monologues. The plot follows the fictional English King Magnus as he spars with, and ultimately outwits, Prime Minister Proteus and his cabinet, who seek to strip the monarchy of its remaining political influence. Magnus opposes the corporation "Breakages, Limited", which controls politicians and impedes technical progress. The Apple Cart was presented as part of the BBC Television's Play of the Month series in 1975. Produced by Alan Shallcross, directed by Cedric Messina, starring; Nigel Davenport, Helen Mirren, Peter Barkworth, Prunella Scales, Bill Fraser, Trevor Baxter, Beryl Reid, Reg Pritchard, Simon Lack.

A 1977 BBC adaptation play written by Bernard Shaw, directed by Cedric Messina, starring John Gielgud as Shotover, Barbara Murray as Ariadne and Siân Phillips as Hesione. Click on CC for English subtitles. "Heartbreak House: A Fantasia in the Russian Manner on English Themes" is a play written by Bernard Shaw during the First World War, published in 1919 and first performed in November 1920 at the Garrick Theatre, New York, followed by a West End production the following year. The play reflects Shaw's disillusion with post-war Britain. It contrasts cultured but self-absorbed and politically irresponsible people on the one hand and aggressive philistines on the other. Heartbreak House contains a self-mocking depiction of Shaw himself in the central character, Captain Shotover. On the eve of World War I, Ellie Dunn, her father, and her fiancé are invited to one of Hesione Hushabye's infamous dinner parties. Unfortunately, her fiancé is a scoundrel, her father's a bumbling prig, and she's actually in love with Hector, Hesione's husband. This bold mix of farce and tragedy lampoons British society as it blithely sinks toward disaster. Cast & Characters: Captain Shotover: John Gielgud Hesione Hushabye: Sian Phillips Lady Utterword: Barbara Murray Hector Hushabye: Daniel Massey Ellie Dunn: Lesley-Anne Down Mangan: David Waller Randall Utterword: Donald Pickering Mazzini Dunn: Richard Pearson Burglar: Barry Jackson Nurse Guinness: Joyce Grant

A 1972 BBC adaptation of George Bernard Shaw play, produced by Cedric Messina and directed by William Slater. Starring Dame Maggie Smith as Epifania, with Peter Barkworth, James Villiers, Tom Baker. Epifania is the richest woman in England. She's also strong-willed, highly intelligent, fiercely determined and an expert at Judo, which makes her hard to live with. She's also married, but her husband is now in love with another woman. She's also seeing another man socially, but he seems to be more interested in his food than her. Will or can this poor little rich girl ever find true happiness? A chance meeting with an Egyptian doctor may prove interesting... Cast & Characters: Epifania: Maggie Smith The Woman: Avril Angers The Doctor: Tom Baker Julius Sagamore: Peter Barkworth The Man: John Garrie Adrian Blenderbland: Charles Gray Patricia Smith: Priscilla Morgan The Manager: Donald Pickering Alastair Fitzfassenden: James Villiers

BBC Play of the Month, 1979, based on the novel "The Wings of the Dove" by Henry James. Click on CC for English subtitles. Kate Croy's mother was born to wealth and privilege, but she threw it all away to marry Kate's father, a penniless opium addict who admits to having stolen from his wife. After her mother's death, Kate is offered an opportunity to return to the life her mother gave up. There is a condition, however: Kate must sever all of her old ties, not only to her father, but also to her lover, the muck-raking journalist Merton Densher, whom she has promised marriage. Kate reluctantly agrees to this, and in the meantime becomes friendly with "the world's richest orphan," Millie Theale, an American making the Grand Tour. Desperate to see Kate, Merton crashes a party that she and Millie are attending, and Millie is attracted to him. When Kate learns that Millie is dying, she comes up with a plan to have her cake and eat it too... but all does not go as planned. Dramatised by: Denis Constanduros Costume Designer: Michael Burdle Lighting: John Summers Designer: David Spode Producer: Alan Shallcross Director: John Gorrie Cast & Characters: Maud Lowder: Elizabeth Spriggs Susan Stringham: Betsy Blair Merton Densher: John Castle Kate Croy: Suzanne Bertlsh Milly Theale: Lisa Eichhorn Lord Mark: Rupert Frazer Sir Luke Strett: Alan Rowe Eugenio: Gino Melvazzi

BBC Play of the Month, 1977, based on the novel "The Ambassadors" by Henry James. Dramatised by Denis Constanduros Directed by James Cellan Starring: Paul Scofield, Lee Remick, Delphine Seyrig, David Huffman, Gayle Hunnicutt, Don Fellows, William Hootkins Lambert Strether embarks on a delicate and challenging mission in Europe. He is sent to Europe to rescue a young American - the son of his widowed fiancée - from the charms of a mysterious French beauty. Upon his arrival, he encounters Maria Gostrey.

Danton's Death is a "freely adaptation" of Georg Büchners' play (incorporating some material from Büchner's Woyzeck) for a BBC Play of the Month in 1978 by Stuart Griffiths and director Alan Clarke, with Norman Rodway as Danton and Ian Richardson as Robespierre. Danton's Death (Dantons Tod) was the first play written by Georg Büchner, set during the French Revolution. Georg Büchner wrote his works in the period between Romanticism and Realism in the so-called Vormärz era in German history and literature (1815/1830-1848). The play follows the story of Georges Danton, a leader of the French Revolution, during the lull between the first and second terrors. Georges Danton created the office of the Revolutionary Tribunal as a strong arm for the Revolutionary Government. With this, to be accused of anything real or imagined was to be condemned to death without trial, proofs, evidence or witnesses. Within months he knew this power was a terrible mistake and fought to have it ended. Robespierre stopped him and used the Tribunal to have Danton and all opposition killed, consolidate his power and slaughter uncounted thousands of French men, women, and children. Ultimately he followed Danton to the guillotine. Witnesses describe Danton as dying bravely comforting other innocents executed with him. Main Cast & Characters: Norman Rodway as Danton Ian Richardson as Robespierre Michael Pennington as Saint-Just Anthony Higgins as Camille Desmoulins James Aubrey as Lacroix Kate Fahy as Julie (Danton's wife) Zoë Wanamake as Lucile Desmoulins Shane Briant as Marie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles Roger Sloman as Bertrand Barère John Woodnutt as Fouquier-Tinville Michael Hughes as Louis Legendre Jonathan Adam as Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois Emma Garden as Marion (a prostitute)

BBC Play of the Month, 1974, based on the Play "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. Directed by James MacTaggart. Starring: Coral Browne, Michael Jaystone, Julian Holloway, Gemma Jones, Celia Bannerman, Lally Bowers and Richard Pearson. In 1890s London, two friends use the same pseudonym ("Ernest") for their on-the-sly activities. Hilarity ensues. The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at the St James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae to escape burdensome social obligations. Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play's major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage and the resulting satire of Victorian conformity. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make The Importance of Being Earnest a very popular play. The successful opening night marked the climax of Wilde's career but also heralded his downfall. The Marquess of Queensberry, whose son Lord Alfred Douglas was Wilde's lover, planned to present the writer with a bouquet of rotten vegetables and disrupt the show. Wilde was tipped off, and Queensberry was refused admission. Their feud came to a climax in court in April 1895 when Wilde sued for libel. The proceedings provided enough evidence for Wilde’s arrest, trial, and conviction on charges of 'gross indecency'. Wilde's homosexuality was revealed to the Victorian public, and he was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. Despite the play's early success, Wilde's notoriety caused it to be closed after 86 performances. After his release from prison, he published the play from exile in Paris, but he wrote no more comic or dramatic works.

A 1969 BBC TV Special written by Derek Ingrey and directed by Jonathan Alwyn. Audio in English with English subtitles (click on CC). This is a pilot from the Drama Playhouse strand for a series that never emerged. It tells the story of the Earl of Warwick and Perkin Warbeck, during the reign of King Henry VII. Just after the end of the war of the Roses the King finds that there is a plot to take the crown away from him and that a prisoner in the Tower may have a rightful claim to Kingship. Cast: John Abineri, Bernard Archard, Corin Redgrave, Paul Bacon, Peter Copley, Laurence Jeffrey, Edward Kelsey, James Maxwell, Wolfe Morris, Roy Patrick, Robert Powell, Simon Turner, Philippa Urquhart, Peter Welch.

Rudolph Cartier's 1954 BBC adaptation of George Orwell's story about a man who tries to rebel against the totalitarian state in which he lives and works. Audio in English with English subtitles (click on CC for subtitles).

"Twelfth Night" is a 1970 British TV adaptation of the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. It was directed by John Sichel and broadcast as the 44th episode of second season of ITV Sunday Night Theatre. The score was composed by Marc Wilkinson. After a shipwreck, believing her brother has been killed, Viola disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and becomes a courtier to Orsino, who sends her to deliver a message of his love to Olivia, but she falls for the messenger instead. Main Cast: Tommy Steele as Feste Ralph Richardson as Sir Toby Belch Alec Guinness as Malvolio Joan Plowright as Viola/Sebastian Gary Raymond as Orsino Adrienne Corri as Olivia John Moffatt as Sir Andrew Aguecheek Sheila Reid as Maria Riggs O'Hara as Fabian Richard Leech as Antonio Kurt Christian as Curio Christopher Timothy as Valentine