The Rivals

Summary

1948 BBC live studio production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s comedy The Rivals.

Theatre play

The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) [more information]

Play synopsis

The Rivals is a comedy concerning the romantic difficulties of Lydia Languish, who is determined to marry for love and into poverty. Realising this, the aristocratic Captain Jack Absolute woos her while claiming to be Ensign Beverley. But her aunt, Mrs Malaprop, will not permit her to wed a mere ensign, and Lydia will lose half her fortune if she marries without her aunt’s permission. Among the play’s many plot complications is the appearance of Sir Anthony (Jack’s father). In the end, Lydia abandons her sentimental notions and agrees to marry Jack.

Production history

First performed at Covent Garden, London in January 1775 and published in the same year.

Date of transmission

Sunday 14 November 1948

Time

8.30-10.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Desmond Davis

Playwright

Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816)

Adapted for Television by

Desmond Davis

Music

William Cox-Ife

Sets / Settings

Barry Learoyd

Cast

Renée Asherson	Lydia Languish
Reginald Beckwith	Acres
Hamlyn Benson	Sir Anthony Absolute
Hazel Jennings	Julia
Stuart Latham	Fag
Vivian Milroy	Thomas
Henry Oscar (1891-1969)	Sir Lucius O’Trigger
Brian Oulton	Faulkland
Susan Richmond	Mrs Malaprop
Morris Sweden	David
Desmond Walter-Ellis	Captain Absolute
Joan White	Lucy

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 8.00pm on Thursday 18 November 1948.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

18th-century setting; comedy; marriage

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 12 November 1948 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 26; article pp. 24-25