Night of the Ding-Dong
Night of the Ding-Dong is a 1954 stage play by Ralph Peterson. It was this second play, following The Square Ring. It is a comedy set in Adelaide just after the Crimean War about the locals fearing a Russian invasion. It is based on a real incident.[1]
Plot
In 19th century Adelaide, after the Crimean War, Colonial Administrator Colonel Beauchamp, trains a volunteer defence corps at the weekends, and worries about a Russian invasion. Idealistic schoolteacher Higsen, who is in love with Beauchamp's daughter, is more concerned with free education. Higsen asks Beauchamp to marry the latter's daughter but is turned down because education must give way to defence. When a Russian gunboat is rumoured to be near Adelaide, Beauchamp sets about whipping up the public into a frenzy in order to fund a standing army.
1958 British TV Adaptation
Night of the Ding-Dong | |
---|---|
Directed by | John Nelson Burton |
Written by |
Peter John Dyer John Nelson-Burton |
Based on | play by Ralph Peterson |
Distributed by | ITV |
Release date | 1958 |
Running time | 60 mins |
Country | UK |
Language | English |
The play was adapted for British TV in 1958 as part of Armchair Theatre.
Cast
- David Courtney as Marcus Higson
- Hilton Edwards as Colonel Beauchamp
- John Kidd as Morgan Nash
- Andree Melly as Louise Beauchamp
- Charles Morgan as Godwin Shedly
- Peter Myers as Thaddeus Beauchamp
- Athene Seyler as Mrs. Beauchamp senior
- Ewen Solon as Harry Kelp
- Joyce Worsley as Victoria Beauchamp
1961 Australian TV Adaptation
Night of the Ding-Dong | |
---|---|
Directed by | William Sterling |
Production company |
ABC |
Release date | 1962 |
Running time | 60 mins |
Country | Australia |
Language | English |
The play was filmed for Australian TV. It originally aired 3 May 1961 on ABC's Melbourne station, and was recorded for showing on other ABC stations. The original broadcast was live.[2]
It was directed by William Sterling.
Cast
- Michael Duffield as Col Beauchamp
- Madeline Howell as Victoria Beauchamp
- David Mitchell as Higson
- Anne Charleston
- Campbell Copelin
- Keith Hudson
- Charles Sinclair
- Carole Potter
- Roland Redshaw
- Stewart Weller
- Eric Conway
- Nevil Thurgood
Reception
The critic from the Sydney Mornig Herald thought that "uniform competence in acting could not-altogether suggest the whimsy inherent in" the play.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ "THE RUSSIAN SQUADRON IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS.". Illustrated Australian News (314). Victoria, Australia. 25 January 1882. p. 5. Retrieved 18 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "TV Guide". The Age. 27 April 1961.
- ↑ "Satirical Play on TV". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 July 1961. p. 6.
External links
- 1961 Australian TV play at IMDb
- 1958 British TV play at IMDB
- Australian performances of the play at Ausstage
- 1961 TV adaptation at AustLit
- 1958 TV adaptation at AustLit
- Original 1954 Play at Austlit