Red Peppers (TV play)

Red Peppers is a 1962 Australian TV play based on the play Red Peppers. It aired with the play Family Album. Each play went for half an hour. James Upshaw produced.

Red Peppers
Ad in SMH 25 Jul 1962
Based onplays by Noël Coward
Directed byJames Upshaw
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production companyABC
Release
Original networkABN-2
Original release25 July 1962 (Sydney)
1 August 1962[1]

They were broadcast on Wednesday July 25, 1962 at 8.30 p.m. on ABM 2. Red Peppers a telerecording was short first and the live production Family Album followed.[2] It was the first time Noel Coward had been adapted for Australian television, mostly because "it was hard to get the rights," according to Upshaw.[3]

Cast of Red Peppers

Cast of Family Album
  • Lorrae Desmond as Jane Featherways
  • Colin Croft as Jasper Featherways

Production

It was Desmond's debut in a straight stage production and followed airing of her own variety show, The Lorrae Desmond Show. She had been in the US. Her co star Colin Croft appeared on her variety show.[2]

"It will be wonderful to be on TV again after night club engagements," said Desmond. "I shall be singing in both comedies hut I am enthusiastic about appearing to a straight play."[2]

Reception

The Bulletin called it "worthy of the highest praise... almost flawless...a delight to watch, if only because it was a breakthrough in local television production. "[4]

The Sydney Morning Herald said "Not even Lorrae Desmond, assisted by a fine _supporting cast and an excellent production... can disguise the perennially unsubstantial quality of Noel Coward's dramatic work" pointing out it was "the first appearance of a Coward play on Australian television, and, one hopes, the last."[5]

The Sunday Sydney Morning Herald thought "Of the two plays, I thought "Family Album" came off a shade better, with acting honours going to Brigid Leniban as the spinster daughter, Lavinia."[6]

References
  1. "TV Guide". The Age. 26 July 1962. p. 7.
  2. "Lorrae Desmond in Comedy Roles". Sydney Morning Herald. July 16, 1962. p. 11.
  3. "Untitled". The Age. 26 July 1962. p. 21.
  4. Roberts, Frank (4 August 1962). "TELEVISION STYLISH". The Bulletin. p. 37.
  5. "Coward Plays on Television". Sydney Morning Herald. July 26, 1962. p. 8.
  6. Marshall, Valda (July 29, 1962). "TV Merry Go Round". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 72.


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