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said "The happy turns and twists of its plot and its unrestrained, exuberant dialogue were skillfully brought within the television frame, enabling the notably able cast to show off a variety of nimble expressions" adding "This was a good-tempered and affable production" with "some delightful acting
330:
Reg
Livermore wrote in his memoirs that rehearsals took place in premises in Lower Forbes St, near Kings Cross. He says whenever Meillion had a break in dialogue he would leave to visit the pub, but "he always returned in time". Livermore says Meillon's performance "was lively, nonetheless, as was
351:
said
Meillon made "a display of naturalistic acting of such excellence that there was excitement in the sheer realism of his gesture and inflection. But the 100 minute production left an after taste of such dissatisfaction that the inevitable first question was, do I want naturalistic acting in
45:
326:
Sets and costumes were designed by Wendy
Dickson of the Elizabethan Theatre Trust. Two studios were used. The sets involved building a complete market place, containing a courthouse, inn and stocks. More than 30 costumes were made.
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John
Meillon made it after returning home after five years in London, "I would think this play was the best ever produced in Australia", said Meillon. "It would stand on its merits anywhere."
297:
on 4 June 1789 under the governance of
Captain Arthur Phillip. It was performed to honour the king's birthday. The play was based on Farqhuar's experience recruiting in Shrophsire during the
197:, which was the first play ever performed in Australia. "The Recruiting Officer" aired on 6 January 1965 in Sydney, 13 January 1965 in Brisbane, and on 20 January 1965 in Melbourne.
222:
Two recruiting officers, Plume and Brazen, visit a country district and become involved with Plume's childhood friend, Worthy, and two beautiful women, Sylvia and
Melinda.
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It was one of the most elaborate productions shot on
Australian TV until that time. It was filmed in 1964 but screening was delayed until after a
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The play had recently been revived in the public consciousness after being performed at the
National Theatre in London in 1963.
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The original play was first play to be staged in the Colony of New South Wales, which is now
Australia, by the convicts of the
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because of the title, and conscription had been an issue in the election.
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The production was the first episode of the ABC anthology series
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In 1964, when the play was shot, it was compared to the movie
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385:. Vol. 39, no. 11, 044. 4 January 1965. p. 14
669:. New South Wales, Australia. 13 January 1965. p. 10
406:"Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Recruiting Officer"
626:
18:1st episode of the 1st season of Wednesday Theatre
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483:"THE RECRUITING OFFICER- ABC TV Pros and cons"
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446:"Convicts Acted in Australia's First Play".
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588:– via National Library of Australia.
561:– via National Library of Australia.
499:– via National Library of Australia.
393:– via National Library of Australia.
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359:said it was the "highlight of the week".
344:and resourceful use of visual details."
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627:Livermore, Reg; McMicking, Rob (2003).
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922:1960s Australian television plays
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631:. Hardie Grant Books. p. 57.
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545:"Convicts acted comedy in 1789"
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553:. 23 December 1964. p. 18
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468:. 14 January 1965. p. 10.
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649:. 7 January 1965. p. 12.
550:The Australian Women's Weekly
430:. 4 January 1965. p. 11.
404:Vagg, Stephen (16 May 2021).
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331:he, a jovial, likable chum."
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942:Films directed by Ken Hannam
608:. 4 January 1965. p. 13
580:. 4 January 1965. p. 13
491:. 8 January 1965. p. 10
450:. 6 January 1965. p. 6.
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692:"The Recruiting Officer"
279:Stewart Finch as a yokel
106:6 January 1965
818:I Have Been Here Before
643:"DRAMA Comedy on ABN 2"
273:Ronald Morse as a Judge
270:Yvonne Matthews as Lucy
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842:The Recruiting Officer
702:The Recruiting Officer
509:Hughes, Robert (1987)
210:, and was directed by
194:The Recruiting Officer
189:The Recruiting Officer
83:The Recruiting Officer
26:The Recruiting Officer
927:1965 television plays
850:Moby Dick - Rehearsed
647:Sydney Morning Herald
528:Sydney Morning Herald
428:Sydney Morning Herald
352:Restoration comedy?"
341:Sydney Morning Herald
276:Don Pascoe as a yokel
629:Chapters and Chances
524:"A Restoration Play"
810:Adventure Unlimited
759:Sunday Too Far Away
874:Robbery Under Arms
677:– via Trove.
616:– via Trove.
605:The Canberra Times
577:The Canberra Times
488:The Canberra Times
382:The Canberra Times
144:Episode chronology
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794:(1979) (TV movie)
203:Wednesday Theatre
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283:Mark Edwards
232:John Meillon
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208:John Meillon
206:and starred
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168:Peter Grimes
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134:John Meillon
118:Running time
81:
33:
25:
15:
834:Split Level
775:Summerfield
377:"WEDNESDAY"
295:First Fleet
256:Anna Volska
252:as Sergeant
68:Directed by
916:Categories
744:Ken Hannam
513:, Collins.
424:"TV Guide"
363:References
289:Production
264:as Melinda
212:Ken Hannam
110:1965-01-06
72:Ken Hannam
900:Wandjina!
885:TV series
742:Films of
335:Reception
310:Tom Jones
258:as Sylvia
244:Tony Ward
240:as Brazen
63:Episode 1
826:Bertrand
802:TV plays
751:Features
707:AusStage
448:TV Times
389:20 March
313:(1963).
234:as Plume
158:—
155:Previous
121:100 mins
78:Based on
55:Episode
666:Tribune
661:"TVIEW"
584:3 April
557:3 April
495:3 April
466:The Age
410:Filmink
218:Premise
164: →
153:←
108: (
38:episode
877:(1985)
869:(1966)
861:(1966)
853:(1965)
845:(1965)
837:(1964)
829:(1964)
821:(1964)
813:(1963)
786:(1979)
778:(1977)
770:(1976)
762:(1975)
673:25 May
612:25 May
783:Dawn!
696:IMDb
675:2020
614:2020
586:2015
559:2015
497:2015
391:2017
355:The
347:The
339:The
226:Cast
162:Next
705:at
694:at
87:by
57:no.
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187:"
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112:)
28:"
24:"
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