The First Gentleman (radio play)

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The First Gentleman
Genreplay drama
Running time75 mins (8:00 pm 9:15 pm)
Country of originAustralia
Language(s)English
SyndicatesABC
Written by Betty Roland
Directed byJohn Cairns [1]
Original release31 May 1945

The First Gentleman is a 1945 Australian radio play by Betty Roland about Benjamin Boyd. [2] [3] It was one of Roland's most notable works. [4]

Contents

The original cast included Hal Lashwood and Patricia Kennedy. [5] The production was well received and the ABC produced it again in 1946, 1949, 1952 [6] 1955 [7] and 1959. [8]

Premise

According to ABC Weekly it was "a lively chronicle play of early N.S.W., the story of Ben Boyd, mercurial, energetic and handsome, and of all that happened to his great schemes. She [Roland] has also taken the liberty of inventing a love story to leaven the rigid facts of history." [8]

Cast of 1955 production

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References

  1. "RADIO HIGHLIGHTS". The Newcastle Sun . No. 8557. New South Wales, Australia. 31 May 1945. p. 12. Retrieved 1 February 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  2. "BROADCASTING". The Argus (Melbourne) . No. 30, 812. Victoria, Australia. 31 May 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 21 December 2023 via National Library of Australia.
  3. "RADIO HIGHLIGHTS". The Newcastle Sun . No. 8557. New South Wales, Australia. 31 May 1945. p. 12. Retrieved 21 December 2023 via National Library of Australia.
  4. Rees, Leslie (1953). Towards An Australian Drama. pp. 115, 167.
  5. "This week's A.B.C. Plays on the National programmes", ABC Weekly, 7 (21), Sydney, 26 May 1945, nla.obj-1326851346, retrieved 21 December 2023 via Trove
  6. "Saturday, February 16", ABC Weekly, 14 (6), Sydney, 9 February 1952, retrieved 21 December 2023 via Trove
  7. "RADIO PLAYS for NEXT WEEK A. B. C.", ABC weekly, Sydney, 2 April 1955, retrieved 1 February 2024 via Trove
  8. 1 2 "Sunday Matinee", ABC Weekly, 21 (24), Sydney, 17 June 1959, retrieved 21 December 2023 via Trove