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 Morning Herald thought that "uniform competence in acting could not-altogether suggest the whimsy inherent in" the play.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ "TV Guide". The Age. 27 April 1961.
  3. ↑ "Satirical Play on TV". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 July 1961. p. 6.


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