Fly Away Peter

Summary

1948 BBC live studio production of Fly Away Peter, A. P. Dearsley’s comedy of a suburban family. This production featured the original cast from The Fortune Theatre production.

Theatre play

Fly Away Peter by A. P. Dearsley [more information]

Play synopsis

A comedy set in a suburban, middle-class family. ‘The play introduces us to the Hapgoods, headed by Father Hapgood, his wife and four children and the friends and acquaintances who are apt to pop in at odd times. One of the sons yearns to go to Nigeria and make his fortune, a daughter falls in love with an admirer whose intentions appear more dishonourable than matrimonial. Each of the Hapgood children, in fact, tends to fly away from the domestic nest, but discover before it is too late that there is, after all, much to be said for a possessive mother and the sort of father one likes to boast about.' (The Scanner, ‘Comedy - Suburban and Rabelaisian’, Radio Times, 20 February 1948, p. 24)

Production history

Published by French in 1948. It was staged at St James’ Theatre, London in 1947, but it is not known if this was the premiere.

Date of transmission

Sunday 22 February 1948

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

J. H. Roberts

Playwright

A. P. Dearsley

Cast

John Arnatt	John Neilson
Michael Atkinson	Arthur Hapgood
Maureen Hurley	Myra Hapgood
Toni Kendam	Dandy
James Kenney	George Harris
Aubrey Morris	Ted Hapgood
J. H. Roberts	Mr Hapgood
Christine Russell	Phyllis Hapgood
Madoline Thomas	Mrs Hapgood

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 3.00pm on Tuesday 24 February 1948.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

comedy

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 20 February 1948 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 26; article, p. 24