The Pelican

Summary

1939 BBC live studio production of The Pelican by F. Tennyson Jesse and H. M. Harwood.

Theatre play

The Pelican by F. Tennyson Jesse and H. M. Harwood [more information]

Play synopsis

The setting is Sir John Heriot’s house and Wanda’s house at Bougival, near Paris. The story is that of a disinherited son, and the title refers to the idea that a good mother will ultimately give her life’s blood for her child.

Production history

The play premiered at the Ambassadors Theatre, London, October 1924-March 1925, and was then presented on Broadway, September-November 1925. Published London: Ernest Benn Ltd, 1926.

Date of transmission

Tuesday 22 August 1939

Time

9.10-10.30pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Playwright

H. M. Harwood

Playwright

F. Tennyson Jesse

Cast

Derek Elphinstone	Robin
Arthur Goullet	Shaw
Mary Hinton	Wanda Heriot
Joyce Kennedy	Hermione Blundell
Agnes Lauchlan	Anna
Mabel Terry Lewis	Lady Heriot
Eric Portman	Charles Cheriton
James Raglan	Marcus Heriot
Athole Stewart	General Sir John Heriot
Lanham Titchener
Austin Trevor	Paul Lauzun

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Later transmissions

A scheduled re-presentation on 5 September 1939 did not go ahead because of the wartime closure of the television service.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

France, as theme or setting

Print sources

Title

Broadcasting: A Barrie Play (Newspaper listing)

Reference

The Times, 22 August 1939, p. 8

Title

Radio Times, 18 August 1939 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 17