Play of Daniel (TV play)

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Play of Daniel
Ad from SMH 13 Dec 1961
Based onPlay of Daniel
Directed byColin Dean
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time60 mins[3]
Production companyABC
Original release
NetworkABC
Release13 December 1961 (1961-12-13) (Sydney, live)[1]
25 December 1961 (1961-12-25) (Melbourne, Brisbane, taped)[2]

Play of Daniel is a 1961 Australian TV play based on Play of Daniel. It was broadcast from the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.[4]

The performance was edited by Noah Greenberg with narration by W.H. Auden.[5]

Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[6]

Plot[edit]

In Babylon at the time of King Belshazzar, writing on the wall warns the prophet Daniel about the destruction that will accompany the arrival of Darius, leader of the Medes and the Persians. The counsellor turns King Darius against Daniel.

Cast[edit]

  • Richard Connolly as Daniel
  • Stewart Ogilvie as Prince
  • John Brosnan as Darius
  • James Condon as Narrator
  • Anne Della-Bosca as Queen
  • Robert Moore as Belshazzar
  • Robyn Hannon
  • John Robertson

Production[edit]

The play, directed by James Lang, was presented at St Mary's Crypt in August 1961 by the Guild of St Pius X.[7][8] The production was revived in November.[9]

The ABC decided to do a live broadcast of the play which aired in December 1961. The play was set entirely to music.[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Advertisement". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 December 1961. p. 8.
  2. ^ "Play of Daniel". TV Times. 21 December 1961. p. 7.
  3. ^ "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 December 1961. p. 16.
  4. ^ "Christmas TV fare will fill you". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia. 27 December 1961. p. 19. Retrieved 4 February 2020 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "TV Guide". The Age. 21 December 1961. p. 25.
  6. ^ Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  7. ^ "Three Plays on Her Plate". Sydney Morning Herald. 3 August 1961. p. 24.
  8. ^ ""The Play of Daniel" in Crypt". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 August 1961. p. 17.
  9. ^ ""The Play of Daniel" in St Mary's Crypt". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 November 1961. p. 12.
  10. ^ ""Live" Play from Church". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 November 1961. p. 1818.

External links[edit]