 | |
| Genre | comedy fantasy play |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 mins |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language(s) | English |
| Written by | Alec Coppel |
| Original release | 1940 |
A Rum Affair is a 1940 Australian radio play by Alec Coppel. [1]
Although Coppel was Australian, most of his career took place overseas. A Rum Affair was a rare work of his that debuted in Australia. It premiered in 1940 on the ABC as part of a series of Australian plays.
Leslie Rees called it "a short, irresponsible comedy of fantastic situation... Alec Coppel is willing to take types and settings that have served in other plays; his originality is in his wit and deft sense of situation and holding... of suspense... A Rum Affair is a saucy morsel." [2]
Another critic called it "the most suave and delicately balance radio script we have seen for years, only a trifle... but a trifle that is like a waffle that melts in the mouth. We don't often say, don’t miss this; but, don’t miss this. " [3]
The play was produced again in 1942, [4] 1946 [5] and 1958. [6]
The 1946 version starred Peter Finch and was directed by Frank Harvey. [7] A review of this production called it "a pleasant enough trifle, proving a good starring vehicle for Peter Finch. For a while he stayed in the substrata of understatement, but on the entrance of the ghost a mos seductive shade played by Sheila Sewell, things got going so you could hear them. Outstanding was a nice piece of character from erstwhile A.B.C. producer Charles Wheeler. Production, by Frank Harvey, ideal." [8]
The play possibly was adapted by Coppel as The Story of an Inn, a stage play he announced in the 1940s but which doesn't appear to have been produced. [9] [10] It was called a comedy dealing with social regeneration. [11] The play was postponed reportedly due to its large cast. [12] [13] A 1943 article asked Coppel, "We’d like to see it. We’ve heard a lot about it. You’ve often been about to produce it but never got very far. Now’s the time. Give yourself and Sydney a chance. " [14]
