A Sleep of Prisoners: Difference between revisions
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*Peter Williams as Cpl. Joe Adams |
*Peter Williams as Cpl. Joe Adams |
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==1961 TV Adaptation== |
==1961 Perth TV Adaptation== |
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{{Infobox television |
{{Infobox television |
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| name = A Sleep of Prisoners |
| name = A Sleep of Prisoners |
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===Reception=== |
===Reception=== |
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''The Bulletin'' TV critic called it "a triumph... must rank with the best in live television."<ref name="bull"/> |
''The Bulletin'' TV critic called it "a triumph... must rank with the best in live television."<ref name="bull"/> |
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==1961 Brisbane TV Adaptation== |
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==1961 Perth TV Adaptation== |
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{{Infobox television |
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| name = A Sleep of Prisoners |
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| image = |
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| image_upright = |
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| image_alt = |
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| caption = |
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| genre = |
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| creator = |
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| based_on = |
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| writer = |
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| screenplay = |
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| story = |
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| director = [[Raymond Menmuir]] |
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| starring = |
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| narrated = |
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| music = |
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| country = Australia |
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| language = English |
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| num_episodes = |
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| producer = Fred Haynes |
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| cinematography = |
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| runtime = |
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| company = ABC |
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| network = ABC |
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| released = {{start date|1961|2}} |
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}} |
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The play appears to have been filmed for Brisbane television in March 1961 with [[Rod Haddrick]]. It was shot at St John's Cathedral in the first week of March. The cast consisted of four - imported Ron Hadrick, ad exec Don McTaggart and two professional actors. Menuir said "this production will be different from anything yet attempted in Sydney or Melbourne. Having lived in Brisbane I knew the possibilities of the cathedral as the setting of ''Sleep of Prisoners''. Already we have carried out detailed surveys with lighting men and engineers. They have proved completely satisfactory."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=TV Times|title=Local actors' TV chance|date=12 January 1961|page=3}}</ref> |
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===Cast=== |
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*[[Ron Haddrick]] |
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*Don McTaggart |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:17, 20 September 2020
A Sleep of Prisoners is a 1951 verse play by Christopher Fry.[1] It concerns four English prisoners of war locked up in a church overnight, and the Old Testament style dreams they have springing from an argument between them.[2] Commissioned as part of the Festival of Britain, the anti-war drama, directed by Michael Macowan, opened at St. Thomas' church in Regent Street, London, in May 1951.[3][4] It then toured churches around Britain with its cast of Stanley Baker, Denholm Elliott, Hugh Pryse and Leonard White.[5] It was also performed in churches in America later the same year.[6]
Critical reception
T.C. Worsley wrote "Each of the dreams is dramatically conceived and touched off with that sharp sense of the comic incongruity of things which is Mr Fry's personal approach to life and words."[1]
1951 TV adaptation
The play was broadcast live by the BBC in December, 1951.[7] Wolf Rilla produced.[8]
Cast
- John Slater as Pvt. David King
- Andrew Leigh as Pvt. Tim Meadows
- Robin Lloyd as Pvt. Peter Able
- Peter Williams as Cpl. Joe Adams
1961 Perth TV Adaptation
| A Sleep of Prisoners | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Raymond Menmuir |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Production company | ABC |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | February 1961 |
The play was broadcast live by the ABC from Perth in February 1961. Raymond Menmuir directed.[9]
Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[10]
Cast
- Ron Haddrick as Private David King
- Philip Clarke as Private Peter Able
- Paul Nayton as Corporal Joe Adams
- James Bailey as Tim Meadows
Production
It was shot in St George's Cathedral with Michael Altria the lighting director.[9]
Reception
The Bulletin TV critic called it "a triumph... must rank with the best in live television."[9]
1961 Brisbane TV Adaptation
1961 Perth TV Adaptation
| A Sleep of Prisoners | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Raymond Menmuir |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Fred Haynes |
| Production company | ABC |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | February 1961 |
The play appears to have been filmed for Brisbane television in March 1961 with Rod Haddrick. It was shot at St John's Cathedral in the first week of March. The cast consisted of four - imported Ron Hadrick, ad exec Don McTaggart and two professional actors. Menuir said "this production will be different from anything yet attempted in Sydney or Melbourne. Having lived in Brisbane I knew the possibilities of the cathedral as the setting of Sleep of Prisoners. Already we have carried out detailed surveys with lighting men and engineers. They have proved completely satisfactory."[11]
Cast
- Ron Haddrick
- Don McTaggart
References
- ^ a b Billington, Michael (July 3, 2005). "Obituary: Christopher Fry" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "A Sleep of Prisoners | Samuel French". www.samuelfrench.co.uk.
- ^ "Christopher Fry". The Independent. July 4, 2005.
- ^ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (May 16, 1951). "NEW PLAY BY FRY OPENS IN LONDON; 'A Sleep for Prisoners' Makes Bow at St. Thomas' Church --A Religious Drama" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Production of A Sleep of Prisoners | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- ^ Calta, Louis (October 16, 1951). "FRY'S DRAMA OPENS AT CHURCH TO NIGHT; 'A Sleep of Prisoners' Starts Limited Run Judy Garland Heads Show at Palace Three of Original Cast Anta Lists O'Neill's Play Hartford to See Series" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "A Sleep of Prisoners". December 16, 1951. p. 48 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "A Sleep of Prisoners (1951)". BFI.
- ^ a b c "Shows Perth's Ist Live TV". The Bulletin. 8 February 1961. p. 23.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (February 18, 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
- ^ "Local actors' TV chance". TV Times. 12 January 1961. p. 3.
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