The Recruiting Officer (Wednesday Theatre): Difference between revisions

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| photographer =
| photographer =
|music=Richard Connolly
|music=Richard Connolly
| airdate = 6 January 1965 (Sydney)<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=TV Guide|date=4 January 1965|page=11}}</ref><br>20 January 1965 (Melbourne)<ref name="age">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wXtVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1JYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5561%2C1774617|title=176 Years Later It's Still on TV|date=14 January 1965|page=10}}</ref>
| airdate = 6 January 1965 (Sydney)<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=TV Guide|date=4 January 1965|page=11}}</ref><br>13 January 1965 (Brisbane)<ref name="times">{{cite magazine|magazine=TV Times|title=Convicts Acted in Australia's First Play|page =6|date=6 January 1965}}</ref><br<>20 January 1965 (Melbourne)<ref name="age">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wXtVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1JYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5561%2C1774617|title=176 Years Later It's Still on TV|date=14 January 1965|page=10}}</ref>
| length = 100 mins<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105821498 |title=WEDNESDAY |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=39 |issue=11,044 |date=4 January 1965 |accessdate=20 March 2017 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
| length = 100 mins<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105821498 |title=WEDNESDAY |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=39 |issue=11,044 |date=4 January 1965 |accessdate=20 March 2017 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
| guests = [[John Meillon]]<br>[[Reg Livermore]]
| guests = [[John Meillon]]<br>[[Reg Livermore]]
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==Production==
==Production==
The original play was first play to be staged in the Colony of New South Wales, which is now Australia, by the convicts of the [[First Fleet]] in 1789 under the governance of Captain Arthur Phillip.<ref name="hughes">Hughes, Robert (1987) ''The Fatal Shore'', Collins.</ref>
The original play was first play to be staged in the Colony of New South Wales, which is now Australia, by the convicts of the [[First Fleet]] on 4 June, 1789 under the governance of Captain Arthur Phillip.<ref name="hughes">Hughes, Robert (1987) ''The Fatal Shore'', Collins.</ref> It was performed to honour the king's birthday. The play was based on Farqhuar's experience recruiting in Shrophsire during the [[War of Spanish Succession]].<ref name="times"/>


In 1964, when the play was shot, it was compared to the movie ''[[Tom Jones (1963 film)|Tom Jones]]'' (1963).<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date= December 28, 1964|title=A Restoration Play|page=11}}</ref>
In 1964, when the play was shot, it was compared to the movie ''[[Tom Jones (1963 film)|Tom Jones]]'' (1963).<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date= December 28, 1964|title=A Restoration Play|page=11}}</ref>
Line 47: Line 47:
It was one of the most elaborate productions shot on Australian TV until that time. It was filmed in 1964 but screening was delayed until after a [[1964 Australian Senate election|Senate election]] because of the title, and conscription had been an issue in the election.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105821649 |title=What to stay home for... |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=4 January 1965 |accessdate=3 April 2015 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
It was one of the most elaborate productions shot on Australian TV until that time. It was filmed in 1964 but screening was delayed until after a [[1964 Australian Senate election|Senate election]] because of the title, and conscription had been an issue in the election.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105821649 |title=What to stay home for... |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=4 January 1965 |accessdate=3 April 2015 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


Sets and costumes were designed by Wendy Dickson of the Elizabethan Theatre Trust.<ref name="aww"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105821653 |title=Convicts produce Restoration play |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=4 January 1965 |access-date=25 May 2020 |page=13 |via=Trove }}</ref>
Sets and costumes were designed by Wendy Dickson of the Elizabethan Theatre Trust.<ref name="aww"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105821653 |title=Convicts produce Restoration play |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=4 January 1965 |access-date=25 May 2020 |page=13 |via=Trove }}</ref> Two studios were used. The sets involved building a complete market place, containing a courthouse, inn and stocks. More than 30 costumes were made.<ref name="times"/>


==Reception==
==Reception==
The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' said"The happy turns and twists of its plot and its unrestrained, exuberant dialogue were skillfully brought within the television frame, enabling the notably able cast to show off a variety of nimble expressions" adding "This was a good-tempered and affable production" with "some delightful acting and resourceful use of visual details."<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date= January 7, 1965|title=DRAMA Comedy on ABN 2|page=12}}</ref>
The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' said "The happy turns and twists of its plot and its unrestrained, exuberant dialogue were skillfully brought within the television frame, enabling the notably able cast to show off a variety of nimble expressions" adding "This was a good-tempered and affable production" with "some delightful acting and resourceful use of visual details."<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date= January 7, 1965|title=DRAMA Comedy on ABN 2|page=12}}</ref>


The ''Canberra Times'' said Meillon made "a display of naturalistic acting of such excellence that there was excitement in the sheer realism of his gesture and inflection. But the 100 minute production left an after
The ''Canberra Times'' said Meillon made "a display of naturalistic acting of such excellence that there was excitement in the sheer realism of his gesture and inflection. But the 100 minute production left an after

Revision as of 03:41, 8 October 2020

"The Recruiting Officer"
Wednesday Theatre episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 1
Directed byKen Hannam
Teleplay bybased on the play by George Farquhar
Featured musicRichard Connolly
Original air dates6 January 1965 (Sydney)[1]
13 January 1965 (Brisbane)[2]<br<>20 January 1965 (Melbourne)[3]
Running time100 mins[4]
Guest appearances
John Meillon
Reg Livermore
Episode chronology
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"Peter Grimes"
List of episodes

The Recruiting Officer is a 1965 Australian television production based on the famous play The Recruiting Officer, which was the first play ever performed in Australia.

The production was the first episode of the ABC anthology series Wednesday Theatre and starred John Meillon, and was directed by Ken Hannam.[5] Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[6]

Premise

Two recruiting officers, Plume and Brazen, visit a country district and become involved with Plume's childhood friend, Worthy, and two beautiful women, Sylvia and Melinda

Cast

Production

The original play was first play to be staged in the Colony of New South Wales, which is now Australia, by the convicts of the First Fleet on 4 June, 1789 under the governance of Captain Arthur Phillip.[7] It was performed to honour the king's birthday. The play was based on Farqhuar's experience recruiting in Shrophsire during the War of Spanish Succession.[2]

In 1964, when the play was shot, it was compared to the movie Tom Jones (1963).[8]

John Meillon made it after returning home after five years in London, "I would think this play was the best ever produced in Australia", said Meillon. "It would stand on its merits anywhere."[9]

It was one of the most elaborate productions shot on Australian TV until that time. It was filmed in 1964 but screening was delayed until after a Senate election because of the title, and conscription had been an issue in the election.[10]

Sets and costumes were designed by Wendy Dickson of the Elizabethan Theatre Trust.[9][11] Two studios were used. The sets involved building a complete market place, containing a courthouse, inn and stocks. More than 30 costumes were made.[2]

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald said "The happy turns and twists of its plot and its unrestrained, exuberant dialogue were skillfully brought within the television frame, enabling the notably able cast to show off a variety of nimble expressions" adding "This was a good-tempered and affable production" with "some delightful acting and resourceful use of visual details."[12]

The Canberra Times said Meillon made "a display of naturalistic acting of such excellence that there was excitement in the sheer realism of his gesture and inflection. But the 100 minute production left an after taste of such dissatisfaction that the inevitable first question was, do I want naturalistic acting in Restoration comedy?"[5]

The Sydney Tribune said it was the "highlight of the week".[13]

References

  1. ^ "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 4 January 1965. p. 11.
  2. ^ a b c "Convicts Acted in Australia's First Play". TV Times. 6 January 1965. p. 6.
  3. ^ "176 Years Later It's Still on TV". The Age. 14 January 1965. p. 10.
  4. ^ "WEDNESDAY". The Canberra Times. Vol. 39, no. 11, 044. 4 January 1965. p. 14. Retrieved 20 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b "THE RECRUITING OFFICER- ABC TV Pros and cons". The Canberra Times. 8 January 1965. p. 10. Retrieved 3 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  7. ^ Hughes, Robert (1987) The Fatal Shore, Collins.
  8. ^ "A Restoration Play". Sydney Morning Herald. 28 December 1964. p. 11.
  9. ^ a b "Convicts acted comedy in 1789". The Australian Women's Weekly. 23 December 1964. p. 18. Retrieved 3 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "What to stay home for..." The Canberra Times. 4 January 1965. p. 13. Retrieved 3 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Convicts produce Restoration play". The Canberra Times. 4 January 1965. p. 13. Retrieved 25 May 2020 – via Trove.
  12. ^ "DRAMA Comedy on ABN 2". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 January 1965. p. 12.
  13. ^ "TVIEW". Tribune. New South Wales, Australia. 13 January 1965. p. 10. Retrieved 25 May 2020 – via Trove.


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