A domestic drama concerning a shy teenager whose family fails to understand her adolescent moods.
Fifteen-year-old Elaine Coombes (Francesca Annis) is the youngest child in her family, a quiet and introspective girl whose parents consider her an “afterthought”. Her mother, Madge (Constance Chapman), and her aunt, Dodo (Maureen Pryor), recall their own carefree youths and are baffled by Elaine’s unpredictable behaviour. The family dynamic becomes more strained with the arrival of a lodger, Reg Blanchard (Donald Oliver), whose presence in the house introduces a new tension and further complicates Elaine’s already difficult transition to adulthood. Also in the household are Elaine’s father Frank (Colin Douglas) and friends Laurence (Michael Crawford) and Kay (Gwendolyn Watts).
A compact study of the generation gap, this single play is a typical example of the intimate, character-focused drama common in the early 1960s. Writer Denis Constanduros built a career on such gentle but perceptive examinations of English domestic life, first for radio and later for television. While a modest production, the cast is notable for capturing two major stars at the very beginning of their careers. A teenage Francesca Annis, already a rising talent, plays the central role, while Michael Crawford appears in a small supporting part just before his career gained significant momentum. Their presence gives the play a historical significance beyond its small-scale dramatic ambition.
Broadcast: BBC – West, 1 Episode, 12 January 1961
Writer: Denis Constanduros
Producer: Brandon Acton-Bond
Designer: Desmond Chinn
Main Cast: Francesca Annis (Elaine Coombes), Constance Chapman (Madge Coombes), Maureen Pryor (Dodo), Colin Douglas (Frank Coombes), Donald Oliver (Reg Blanchard), Michael Crawford (Laurence), Gwendolyn Watts (Kay)
