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. It was also adapted for radio and TV.[1]

Plot

Monica Sefton is the wife of a sacked reporter. She plans to write a thriller to restore the family fortune. She accidentally stumbles upon a Nazi spy ring.

Production History

1942 Amateur Production

The play was first produced by Doris Fitton at the Independent Theatre in Sydney in early 1942.[2]

1944 Professional Production

The play 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 made its professional debut on 15 March 1944 at the Theatre Royal in Sydney and was positively received.[4]

1945 Broadway Production

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.[5]

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

Cast

Response

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

Radio Adaptation

1955 Adaptation

The play was adapted for radio on the ABC in 1955.[10][11]

1959 TV version

Lady in Danger
Directed by Colin Dean
Written by Max Afford
Starring Madi Hedd
James Condon
Queenie Ashton
Production
company
ABC
Distributed by ABC
Release date
 9 September 1959 (live broadcast Sydney)
24 September 1959 (taping Melbourne)
Running time
 60 mins
Country Australia
Language English

The play was adapted for TV on the ABC in the 1950s.[12] Broadcast live in Sydney on 9 September 1959, a kinescope recording ("telerecording") was made of the broadcast and shown in Melbourne on 24 September 1959.[13] Cast included Madi Hedd, James Condon and Queenie Ashton.[14] It is not known if the kinescope recording still exists.

Cast

Production

It was the first drama directed by Colin Dean at the ABC. He was assigned the job by ABC's Director of Drama, Neil Hutchinson. "It was a 'try-out' to see if I can do it," said Dean. "It wasn't a substantial play."[15]

Reception

The Age said it "provided an interesting hour's entertainment... outstanding feature was the fine sustained acting from Madi Hedd... James Condon... was not quite as convincing."[16]

The Sydney Morning Herald called it a "neatly tailored thriller" which set "out to do nothing more ambitious than pass an entertaining hour" and "did just that and nothing more in a very competent live television production... [the cast] all played as though they had been doing this kind of thing for most of their working lives. Colin Dean's production aptly matched their efficiency and craftsmanship."[17]

See also

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. 18 March 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "MUSIC AND DRAMA.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 11 December 1943. 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. ↑ Radio adaptation of Lady in Danger at Ausstage
  11. ↑ "WEEKEND LISTENING". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 15 October 1955. p. 4 (The Argus WEEKENDER). Retrieved 9 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ Leslie Rees, Australian Drama in the 1970s, Angus & Robertson, 1978 p 232
  13. ↑ "TV Guide". The Age. 24 September 1959. p. 17.
  14. ↑ "ABN 'Live' Drama". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 September 1959. p. 11.
  15. ↑ "Interview with Colin Dean". ABC TV Gore Hill.
  16. ↑ "Madi Hedd Impresses in Lady in Danger on TV". The Age. 8 October 1959. p. 14.
  17. ↑ "Competent Thriller on ABC 2", Sydney Morning Herald, 10 Sept 1959 p 14
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