Lady in Danger (play)

Lady in Danger
Written by Max Afford
Alexander Kirkland (US version)
Date premiered 28 February 1942
Place premiered Independent Theatre, Sydney
Original language English
Genre comedy-mystery
Setting London

Lady in Danger was a play by Australian writer Max Afford. It was one of the few Australian plays to enjoy a run on Broadway.[1]

Production History

The play was first produced by Doris Fitton at the Independent Theatre in Sydney in early 1942.[2] It was seen by representatives of J.C. Williamsons Ltd, the leading theatrical producers in the country, who bought the rights. Since Williamsons had not produced an Australian play in over 20 years this was seen as a positive step for Australian playwriting.[3]

The play was also optioned for production on Broadway, although it was rewritten by Alexander Kirkland to be set in Australia and be about a Japanese spy ring.[4]

The play made its professional debut on 15 March 1944 at the Theatre Royal in Sydney and was positively received.[5]

Lady in Danger premiered on Broadway in March 1945.[6][7]

Reviews were not strong and it closed after 12 performances.[8][9]

Adaptations

The play was adapted for TV on the ABC in the 1950s.[10]

Broadcast live in Sydney on 9 September 1959, a kinescope recording ("telerecording") was made of the broadcast and shown in Melbourne on 30 September 1959.[11] Cast included Madi Hedd, James Condon and Queenie Ashton.[12] It is not known if the kinescope recording still exists.

References

  1. ↑ Michael J. Tolley, 'Afford, Malcolm (Max) (1906–1954)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 10 January 2013.
  2. ↑ ""LADY IN DANGER".". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 2 March 1942. p. 7. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "MUSIC AND DRAMA.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 4 April 1942. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "MUSIC AND DRAMA.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 11 December 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "MUSIC AND DRAMA.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 18 March 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "AUSTRALIAN'S PLAY ON BROADWAY.". The Argus (Melbourne: National Library of Australia). 28 March 1945. p. 20. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "'LADY IN DANGER' OPENING TONIGHT: ESPIONAGE PLAY, FIRST SEEN IN AUSTRALIA, TO MAKE BOW AT BROADHURST THEATRE IRWIN TO BE PRODUCER THAT TRUEX FAMILY" by SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 29 Mar 1945: 29.
  8. ↑ "New York Critic Finds S.A. Author's Play Dull.". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 31 March 1945. p. 8. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "SPY THRILLER ENDS ITS BROADWAY RUN: IN LONG-RUN COMEDY" by SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 9 Apr 1945: 22.
  10. ↑ Leslie Rees, Australian Drama in the 1970s, Angus & Robertson, 1978 p 232
  11. ↑ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zO00AAAAIBAJ&sjid=UbsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4794%2C4070293
  12. ↑ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FYNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7uQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6499%2C1954838

External links


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