Before the Party

Summary

1960 Associated-Rediffusion production for ITV of Before the Party by Rodney Ackland, a play based on a Somerset Maugham short story.

Theatre play

Before the Party by Rodney Ackland (1908-1991) [more information]

Play synopsis

In this play, which adapts a short story by Somerset Maugham, Laura returns from the Gold Coast after her husband dies. It turns out that he was abusive and she killed him. Her family insist she tell her lover David, husband-to-be, the full story.

Production history

First staged on 2 February 1934.

Date of transmission

Friday 18 November 1960

Time

9.35-10.30pm

Series

Somerset Maugham Hour

Channel

ITV

Production company

Associated-Rediffusion (1955-1964)

Credits

Director

Ian Fordyce

Playwright

Rodney Ackland (1908-1991)

Writer

W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) (this play adapts a short story by Maugham)

Adapted for Television by

William Woods

Designer

Henry Federer

Introduced by

Hugh Williams ('the series introduced by and starring’)

Script Editor

Stanley Miller

Cast

Jill Bennett	Millicent
Joyce Carey	Mrs Skinner
Donald Churchill	Simpson
Pat-Ann Fairfoot	Maid
Frank Gatliff	Harold
Noel Howlett	Mr Skinner
Peter Laird	Davis
Martin Lawton	MacCracken
Margaret Tyzack	Kathleen Skinner
Hugh Ward	Hassan
Hugh Williams	Mallowby

Additional details

Play tags

adaptation of short story; marriage; murder

Print sources

Title

TV Times, 11 November 1960 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 41