The Drunkard; or, The Sins of the Parents Shall be Visited . . .

Summary

1965 BBC production of the 19th-century American melodrama The Drunkard; or, The Fallen Saved by W. H. Smith, in an adaptation by Alec Clunes titled The Drunkard; or, The Sins of the Parents Shall be Visited . . .

Theatre play

The Drunkard; or, The Fallen Saved by William H. Smith [more information]

Play synopsis

A 19th-century American melodrama and temperance play in five acts, described in the TV Times of 9 December 1955, p. 21, thus: ‘Tempted to excesses by one he believes to be his friend, Edward Middleton - with a weakness for brandy - is brought to the gutter, dragging with him his beloved wife and child’. Synopsis: ‘The villainous Lawyer Cribbs has long held a grudge against the Middleton family, even though he has served as their attorney. When young Edward Middleton’s father dies, Cribbs attempts to persuade Edward to dispossess a poor mother and daughter who are Middleton’s tenants. Instead, Edward falls in love with the daughter, Mary, and marries her. But Edward has a weakness: drink. Cribbs insidiously encourages Edward’s weakness, until Edward, ashamed and seemingly impoverished, flees to the degradation of New York’s Five Points district. Cribbs follows him there and attempts to turn him into a forger, but Edward’s better nature prevails. Edward’s foster brother William and a rich philanthropist, Arden Rencelaw, seek him out, rehabilitate him, and reunite him with his wife and young daughter. Cribbs is forced to reveal that he has hidden Edward’s grandfather’s will and that Edward is really still a wealthy man’ (source: http://www.answers.com/topic/the-drunkard).

Production history

First performed in 1844, this was possibly the most popular play produced in the United States before the dramatization of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in the 1850s.

Date of transmission

Saturday 28 August 1965

Time

7.00-8.00pm

Series

Gaslight Theatre

Channel

BBC2

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Bryan Sears

Playwright

William H. Smith

Adapted for Television by

Alec Clunes

Conductor

Maurice Arnold

Musician

Maurice Arnold (pianoforte)

Musician

Martia Eitler (violin)

Advisor

Alec Clunes

Cast

Ronnie Barker	William Middleton / Glanville Wing-Bird / Mrs Joybell Janet Wilson
Belinda Carroll	Julia / Neighbour Spindlenarrow
Alan Foss	Alphonse / Policeman Vicar of Cedarville / Warder
Leslie French	Arden Rancelaw / Harvey Cartwright
John Gower	Frank Green / A New York Loafer
Eira Heath	Madge Wilson
Warren Mitchell	Lawyer Cribbs
Kate O’Mara	Patience / Romp Cartwright
Denis Quilley	Edward Middleton

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

19th-century setting; alcoholism; American drama; melodrama

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 26 August 1965 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 7; article, p. 4