In this single play from the novelist William Trevor, the quiet lives of two middle-aged friends are unsettled by a new acquaintance at a London dance hall.
Since their school days, the gregarious Poppy (Carmel McSharry) has always been the one to lead her more reserved friend, Alice (Megs Jenkins), into mischief. Now in their fifties, Poppy instigates a new secret adventure: regular afternoon visits to the Tottenham Court Dance Hall. There, they meet Grantly Palmer (Norman Beaton), a courteous fellow dancer who begins to show a keen but disturbing interest in Alice. His attentions disrupt the simple pleasure of their outings and threaten the delicate balance of their lifelong friendship.
This single play, an original work for television by the acclaimed Irish writer William Trevor, has the quiet observational quality of his short stories. The drama is located in loneliness, unspoken resentments, and the fragile routines people build to keep desperation at bay. Director John Gorrie’s restrained approach allows the subtle shifts in the central relationships to form the core of the narrative. The play is a small, affecting portrait of characters seeking a brief escape from the quiet disappointments of their lives.
Broadcast: ITV – ATV, 1 Episode, Sunday, 28 March 1976
Written by: William Trevor
Director: John Gorrie
Producer: Nicholas Palmer
Designed by: Stanley Mills
Main Cast: Megs Jenkins (Alice), Carmel McSharry (Poppy), Norman Beaton (Grantly Palmer), Barbara Flynn (Beryl), Edwin Brown (Lenny), Harry Walker (Albert), Maria Sutch (Baby), Ivan Beavis (Drunk Man)
