Swamp Creatures: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==Background==
The play was based on a true story about an old woman who lived near a swamp and disappeared.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91240966 |title=NEW REP. PLAY WILL BE WORLD PREMIERE. |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=26 October 1957 |accessdate=3 April 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The play was based on a true story about an old woman who lived near a swamp and disappeared.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91240966 |title=NEW REP. PLAY WILL BE WORLD PREMIERE. |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=26 October 1957 |accessdate=3 April 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

⚫
==1958 radio adaptation==
⚫
The play was adapted for radio by the ABC in 1958.


==1960 TV adaptation==
==1960 TV adaptation==
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox television
| name = Swamp Creatures
| name = Swamp Creatures
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| caption =
| image_alt =
| director = [[Raymond Menmuir]]
| caption =
| producer =
| genre =
| writer = Alan Seymour
| creator =
| based_on = play by Alan Seymour
| based_on =
| starring =
| writer = Alan Seymour
| music =
| screenplay =
| story =
⚫
| cinematography =
| editing =
| director = [[Raymond Menmuir]]
| distributor = ABC
| starring =
| narrated =
⚫
| released = 9 July 1960 (Sydney, live)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103108299 |title=Advertising |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=35 |issue=9,746 |date=31 October 1960 |accessdate=8 May 2016 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><br>19 October 1960 (Melbourne, taped)<ref>{{cite news|title=""Brink" Drama on TV|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5a4UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e7oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6905%2C2273874|newspaper=The Age|date=13 October 1960|page=14}}</ref>
| runtime = 75 mins
| music =
| country = Australia
| country = Australia
| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| num_episodes =
| producer =
| editor =
⚫
| cinematography =
| runtime = 75 mins
| company = ABC
| distributor = ABC
| budget =
| network = ABV-2 (Melbourne)
⚫
| released =9 July 1960 (Sydney, live)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103108299 |title=Advertising |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=35 |issue=9,746 |date=31 October 1960 |accessdate=8 May 2016 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><br>19 October 1960 (Melbourne, taped)<ref>{{cite news|title=""Brink" Drama on TV|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5a4UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e7oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6905%2C2273874|newspaper=The Age|date=13 October 1960|page=14}}</ref>
| website =
}}
}}
It was filmed for TV by the ABC in 1960.<ref>[http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/106194 1980 TV production details] at [[AusStage]]</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Cq8UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=grYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4891%2C4385349|date=25 August 1960|page=14|title=Weird Drama}}</ref>
The play was filmed for TV by the ABC in 1960.<ref>[http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/106194 1960 TV production details] at [[AusStage]]</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Cq8UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=grYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4891%2C4385349|date=25 August 1960|page=14|title=Weird Drama}}</ref> At the time Australian drama production on television was rare.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/60-australian-tv-plays-1950s-60s/|magazine=Filmink|title=60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s|date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>

At the time Australian drama production was rare.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/60-australian-tv-plays-1950s-60s/|magazine=Filmink|title=60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s|date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>

⚫
It was repeated in 1962<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136933516 |title=LIVE DRAMA AND MUSIC ON ABC TELEVISION. |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=11 December 1962 |accessdate=3 April 2015 |page=27 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 July 1960|title=Swamp Creatures|page=13}}</ref>


⚫
The play was repeated on TV in 1962.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136933516 |title=LIVE DRAMA AND MUSIC ON ABC TELEVISION. |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=11 December 1962 |accessdate=3 April 2015 |page=27 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 July 1960|title=Swamp Creatures|page=13}}</ref>
===Cast===
===Cast===
⚫
*Jacqueline Kott as Caroline
⚫
*Lynne Murphy as Amy
*Graham Hill as Christian
*Graham Hill as Christian
*Marion Johns as Mrs Fall
*Marion Johns as Mrs Fall
⚫
*Jacqueline Kott as Caroline
⚫
*Lynne Murphy as Amy
*Frank Waters as Mr Fall
*Frank Waters as Mr Fall


===Production===
===Production===
Floor assistant David Twiby recalled that during the making of the show, the smoke machine caused a stage hand to nearly die during the broadcast.<ref>http://www.abctvgorehill.com.au/assets/contributions/david_twiby_2E.htm</ref>
Floor assistant David Twiby recalled that during the making of the show, the smoke machine caused a stage hand to nearly die during the broadcast.<ref>{{cite web|website=ABC TV at Gore Hill|title=DAVID TWIBY LOOKS BACK ON HIS DAYS IN THE FIFTIES|http://www.abctvgorehill.com.au/assets/contributions/david_twiby_2E.htm}}</ref>


===Reception===
===Reception===
The ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' critic called it "one of the finest drama efforts I have seen done here."<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U_pjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1860,956380&hl=en Marshall, Valda. 'TV Merry-go-round', Sydney Morning Herald, 17 July 1960, p.45]</ref>
The ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' critic called it "one of the finest drama efforts I have seen done here. Both from a technical and acting point of view, it couldn't be faulted... it gripped the interest from the first sequence."<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U_pjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1860,956380&hl=en Marshall, Valda. 'TV Merry-go-round', Sydney Morning Herald, 17 July 1960, p.45]</ref>


Another ''Herald'' critic said the production "was at least successful in showing how a handful of characters can be marshalled to produce gripping theatre" but thought "the central issues are somewhat cloudily expressed."<ref>{{cite news|date=14 July 1960|title=TV play Gripping Theatre|page=11}}</ref>
Another ''Herald'' critic said the production "was at least successful in showing how a handful of characters can be marshalled to produce gripping theatre" but thought "the central issues are somewhat cloudily expressed."<ref>{{cite news|date=14 July 1960|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bvpjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3489%2C10456828|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=TV play Gripping Theatre|page=11}}</ref>
⚫
==Other adaptation==
⚫
The play was adapted for radio by the ABC in 1958.


⚫
The play was intended to be adapted as a feature film by Kevin Powell and Anthony Buckley Productions but no film resulted.<ref>[http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=swamp%20creatures;querytype=;rec=1;resCount=10 Copy of script for BBC TV version] at [[National Film and Sound Archive]]</ref>
==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1960s)]]
*[[List of television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1960s)]]
Line 89: Line 96:
*[http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C114602 ''Swamp Creatures'' play information] at [[AustLit]]
*[http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C114602 ''Swamp Creatures'' play information] at [[AustLit]]
*[http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/8036988 ''Swamp Creatures'' 1960 TV adaptation] at [[AustLit]]
*[http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/8036988 ''Swamp Creatures'' 1960 TV adaptation] at [[AustLit]]
⚫
*[http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=swamp%20creatures;querytype=;rec=1;resCount=10 Copy of 1957 script] at [[National Film and Sound Archive]]
{{Raymond Menmuir}}
{{Raymond Menmuir}}


Revision as of 03:37, 29 May 2020

Swamp Creatures is a play by the Australian author Alan Seymour. He wrote it for radio, stage and TV. It was Seymour's first produced play.

Plot

Two sisters live together in the Australian bush, the dominant Caroline and the frail Amy. Amy's son Christian returns after having disappeared when he was in his teens.

1957 theatre production

Swamp Creatures
Written byAlan Seymour
Date premiered1 November 1957
Place premieredCanberra
Original languageEnglish

The play was written in 1955–56. In 1956 it was the runner-up in a play competition held by the Journalists' Club and judged by the Playwrights' Advisory Board. In 1957 it was one of the twenty-five finalists in the play competition held by the London Observer.[1]

It was first performed by the Canberra Repertory Society in 1957.[2][3][4]

Cast of original production

  • Joyce Goodes as Constance
  • Barbara Shanahan as Amy
  • Michael Dennis as Christian
  • Harry Schmidt as Mr Fall
  • Daphne Curtis as Mrs Fall

Background

The play was based on a true story about an old woman who lived near a swamp and disappeared.[5]

1960 TV adaptation

Swamp Creatures
Written byAlan Seymour
Directed byRaymond Menmuir
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time75 mins
Production companyABC
Original release
NetworkABV-2 (Melbourne)
Release9 July 1960 (Sydney, live)[6]
19 October 1960 (Melbourne, taped)[7]

The play was filmed for TV by the ABC in 1960.[8][9] At the time Australian drama production on television was rare.[10]

The play was repeated on TV in 1962.[11][12]

Cast

  • Jacqueline Kott as Caroline
  • Lynne Murphy as Amy
  • Graham Hill as Christian
  • Marion Johns as Mrs Fall
  • Frank Waters as Mr Fall

Production

Floor assistant David Twiby recalled that during the making of the show, the smoke machine caused a stage hand to nearly die during the broadcast.[13]

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald critic called it "one of the finest drama efforts I have seen done here. Both from a technical and acting point of view, it couldn't be faulted... it gripped the interest from the first sequence."[14]

Another Herald critic said the production "was at least successful in showing how a handful of characters can be marshalled to produce gripping theatre" but thought "the central issues are somewhat cloudily expressed."[15]

Other adaptation

The play was adapted for radio by the ABC in 1958.

The play was intended to be adapted as a feature film by Kevin Powell and Anthony Buckley Productions but no film resulted.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "NEW REP. PLAY WILL BE WORLD PREMIERE". The Canberra Times. Vol. 31, no. 9, 310. 26 October 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 9 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ Alan Seymour obituary
  3. ^ "New Repertory Play Soon". The Canberra Times. 25 October 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 3 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Repertory Does Full Justice To Excellent Play". The Canberra Times. 2 November 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 3 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "NEW REP. PLAY WILL BE WORLD PREMIERE". The Canberra Times. 26 October 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 3 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Advertising". The Canberra Times. Vol. 35, no. 9, 746. 31 October 1960. p. 11. Retrieved 8 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ """Brink" Drama on TV". The Age. 13 October 1960. p. 14.
  8. ^ 1960 TV production details at AusStage
  9. ^ "Weird Drama". The Age. 25 August 1960. p. 14.
  10. ^ Vagg, Stephen (February 18, 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  11. ^ "LIVE DRAMA AND MUSIC ON ABC TELEVISION". The Canberra Times. 11 December 1962. p. 27. Retrieved 3 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Swamp Creatures". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 July 1960. p. 13.
  13. ^ "DAVID TWIBY LOOKS BACK ON HIS DAYS IN THE FIFTIES". ABC TV at Gore Hill. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://www.abctvgorehill.com.au/assets/contributions/david_twiby_2E.htm" ignored (help)
  14. ^ Marshall, Valda. 'TV Merry-go-round', Sydney Morning Herald, 17 July 1960, p.45
  15. ^ "TV play Gripping Theatre". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 July 1960. p. 11.
  16. ^ Copy of script for BBC TV version at National Film and Sound Archive
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