The Reclining Figure

Summary

BBC production of Harry Kurnitz’s The Reclining Figure.

Theatre play

The Reclining Figure by Harry Kurnitz (1908-1968) [more information]

Play synopsis

The action takes place in a palatial Californian home in the present time and concerns art dealers and fakers, collectors and connoisseurs.

Production history

Performed on Broadway in the 1954-55 season, though it’s not known if this was the premiere.

Date of transmission

Sunday 16 December 1956

Time

8.30pm

Series

Sunday-Night Theatre

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Alvin Rakoff

Playwright

Harry Kurnitz (1908-1968)

Designer

Fanny Taylor

Cast

Jefferson Clifford	Dr Hickey
Clive Dunn	Professor Jumelle
Errol Johns	William
Lois Maxwell	Cass Edgerton
Ferdy Mayne	Denesco
Martin Miller	Agramonte
John Paul	Paul Weldon
Leonard Sachs	Jonas Astorg
Gordon Sterne	Samuel Ellis
Donald Wolfit	Lucas Edgerton

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

American drama; art world; comedy

Print sources

Title

Broadway Comedy Good in Parts: The Reclining Figure (Newspaper review)

Reference

The Manchester Guardian, 17 December 1956, p. 5

Title

Radio Times, 14 December 1956 (Magazine)

Linking notes

pp. 14 and 15, listing and article

Title

The Reclining Figure: BBC Television (Newspaper review)

Reference

The Times, 17 December 1957, p. 10