Cream in My Coffee
Encyclopedia
Cream in My Coffee is a television drama by Dennis Potter
, broadcast on ITV
on 2 November 1980 as the last in a loosely-connected trilogy of plays exploring language and betrayal. A juxtaposition between youth and old age, the play combines a non-linear narrative with the use of popular music to heighten dramatic tension and strongly anticipated The Singing Detective
(1986). Cream in My Coffee was awarded the Prix Italia
for best drama in 1981 and Peggy Ashcroft
gained a BAFTA Best Actress award in 1981. The play's title is taken from the popular song "You're the Cream in My Coffee
", from the 1929 Broadway
musical Hold Everything!
in Eastbourne
for a dirty weekend. Bernard comes from an affluent middle class family while Jean works at the local post office; they intend to be married within a matter of months, much to the annoyance of Bernard's domineering mother.
During their stay the couple make the acquaintance of the resident dance band
singer Jack Butcher, who takes a particular liking to Jean. When Bernard receives word that his father has died he returns home immediately to be at his mother's side, leaving Jean alone at the hotel. Hurt by Bernard's abandonment, Jean allows herself to be seduced by the predatory Butcher. Despite Bernard's mother's objections to her son marrying a shop girl, Bernard returns to the hotel and marries Jean soon after.
In the summer of 1980, the elderly Bernard and Jean return to the hotel to rekindle the spark in their marriage. Bernard's earlier class-driven condescension towards Jean has turned to cruelty, constantly examining and cross-examining every comment she makes; Jean's earlier naivety and impetuousness have transformed into resignation and tolerance, despite her husband's maliciousness. The hotel has also changed since the couple last stayed there: the orchestra who once played to the residents as they took their afternoon tea has been replaced by a man on an electronic keyboard, and the ballroom holds discos rather than dances.
Bernard and Jean spend much of their holiday arguing, usually as a result of Bernard's imagined slights from his wife. Time, however, is running out and the couple are aware that with Bernard being in ill-health this may prove to be the last holiday they take together. On the final evening of their stay the couple attend a 1930s night. Bernard's mind travels back to their first time at the hotel; the rush of memory causes him to recognise the legacy of his mother's dominance, the love he once had with Jean, the significance of Jack Butcher and his own loneliness. He attacks Jean but suffers a heart attack
. As St John's Ambulance men remove his body the rock band on stage launch into a rendition of "Button Up Your Overcoat
".
's own production company Pennies From Heaven Ltd. to be broadcast on ITV
between 1980 and 1981. Commissioned by Michael Grade
and distributed through London Weekend Television
, six of the plays would be written by Potter while the remaining three were to be shared between Jim Allen
and an undisclosed writer. In the event, budget cuts and scheduling problems led to only three plays being produced: Blade on the Feather
, Rain on the Roof
and Cream in My Coffee.
Dennis Potter
Dennis Christopher George Potter was an English dramatist, best known for The Singing Detective. His widely acclaimed television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social. He was particularly fond of using themes and images from popular culture.-Biography:Dennis Potter was born...
, broadcast on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
on 2 November 1980 as the last in a loosely-connected trilogy of plays exploring language and betrayal. A juxtaposition between youth and old age, the play combines a non-linear narrative with the use of popular music to heighten dramatic tension and strongly anticipated The Singing Detective
The Singing Detective
The Singing Detective is a BBC television miniseries written by Dennis Potter, which stars Michael Gambon, and was directed by Jon Amiel. The six episodes were "Skin", "Heat", "Lovely Days", "Clues", "Pitter Patter" and "Who Done It"....
(1986). Cream in My Coffee was awarded the Prix Italia
Prix Italia
The Prix Italia is an international Italian television, radio-broadcasting and Website award. It was established in 1948 by RAI - Radiotelevisione Italiana in Capri...
for best drama in 1981 and Peggy Ashcroft
Peggy Ashcroft
Dame Peggy Ashcroft, DBE was an English actress.-Early years:Born as Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft in Croydon, Ashcroft attended the Woodford School, Croydon and the Central School of Speech and Drama...
gained a BAFTA Best Actress award in 1981. The play's title is taken from the popular song "You're the Cream in My Coffee
You're the Cream in My Coffee
"You're the Cream in My Coffee" is a popular song. It was published in 1928.The song was recorded by Annette Hanshaw in 1928.The music was written by Ray Henderson, the lyrics by Buddy G...
", from the 1929 Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical Hold Everything!
Hold Everything!
Hold Everything! is a musical comedy with book by John McGowan and B. G. de Sylva, lyrics by Lew Brown and B. G. de Sylva, and music by Ray Henderson....
Synopsis
In the summer of 1934, young lovers Bernard and Jean head to the five star Grand HotelGrand Hotel Eastbourne
The Grand Hotel is a Victorian hotel also known as the 'White Palace' is located on King Edwards Parade, Eastbourne in East Sussex England. This 5 star hotel is part of an independent UK based hotel group, Elite Hotels who also own Tylney Hall in Hampshire, Ashdown Park Hotel near Forest Row and...
in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
for a dirty weekend. Bernard comes from an affluent middle class family while Jean works at the local post office; they intend to be married within a matter of months, much to the annoyance of Bernard's domineering mother.
During their stay the couple make the acquaintance of the resident dance band
Dance band
Dance band can be one of several kinds of musical ensemble:* British dance band* Dansband, a Swedish pop genre* A Eurodance band...
singer Jack Butcher, who takes a particular liking to Jean. When Bernard receives word that his father has died he returns home immediately to be at his mother's side, leaving Jean alone at the hotel. Hurt by Bernard's abandonment, Jean allows herself to be seduced by the predatory Butcher. Despite Bernard's mother's objections to her son marrying a shop girl, Bernard returns to the hotel and marries Jean soon after.
In the summer of 1980, the elderly Bernard and Jean return to the hotel to rekindle the spark in their marriage. Bernard's earlier class-driven condescension towards Jean has turned to cruelty, constantly examining and cross-examining every comment she makes; Jean's earlier naivety and impetuousness have transformed into resignation and tolerance, despite her husband's maliciousness. The hotel has also changed since the couple last stayed there: the orchestra who once played to the residents as they took their afternoon tea has been replaced by a man on an electronic keyboard, and the ballroom holds discos rather than dances.
Bernard and Jean spend much of their holiday arguing, usually as a result of Bernard's imagined slights from his wife. Time, however, is running out and the couple are aware that with Bernard being in ill-health this may prove to be the last holiday they take together. On the final evening of their stay the couple attend a 1930s night. Bernard's mind travels back to their first time at the hotel; the rush of memory causes him to recognise the legacy of his mother's dominance, the love he once had with Jean, the significance of Jack Butcher and his own loneliness. He attacks Jean but suffers a heart attack
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
. As St John's Ambulance men remove his body the rock band on stage launch into a rendition of "Button Up Your Overcoat
Button Up Your Overcoat
"Button Up Your Overcoat" is a popular song. The music was written by Ray Henderson, the lyrics by B.G. DeSylva and Lew Brown. The song was published in 1928, and was first performed later that same year by vocalist Ruth Etting. However, the most famous rendition of this song was recorded early in...
".
Production
Cream in My Coffee was the third play in an intended series of nine dramas produced by Potter and Kenith TroddKenith Trodd
Kenith Trodd is a British television producer particularly noted for a long association with television playwright Dennis Potter.The son of a crane driver, Trodd was raised in the Christian fundamentalist Plymouth Brethren...
's own production company Pennies From Heaven Ltd. to be broadcast on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
between 1980 and 1981. Commissioned by Michael Grade
Michael Grade
Michael Ian Grade, Baron Grade of Yarmouth CBE is a British broadcast executive and businessman. He was BBC chairman from 2004 to 2006 and executive chairman of ITV plc from 2007 to 2009.-Early life:...
and distributed through London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
, six of the plays would be written by Potter while the remaining three were to be shared between Jim Allen
Jim Allen (playwright)
James "Jim" Allen was a socialist playwright from England, best known for his collaborations with Ken Loach.- Early life :...
and an undisclosed writer. In the event, budget cuts and scheduling problems led to only three plays being produced: Blade on the Feather
Blade on the Feather
Blade on the Feather is a television drama by Dennis Potter, broadcast by ITV on 19 October 1980 as the first in a loosely-connected trilogy of plays exploring language and betrayal...
, Rain on the Roof
Rain on the Roof
Rain on the Roof is a television drama by Dennis Potter, broadcast by ITV on 26 October 1980.It is the second in a loosely-connected trilogy of plays exploring language and betrayal produced for London Weekend Television by the independent company Potter and producer Kenith Trodd established after...
and Cream in My Coffee.
Principal cast
- Lionel JeffriesLionel JeffriesLionel Charles Jeffries was an English actor, screenwriter and film director.-Early life and career:Jeffries attended the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset. In 1945, he received a commission in the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry...
as Bernard Wilsher - Peggy AshcroftPeggy AshcroftDame Peggy Ashcroft, DBE was an English actress.-Early years:Born as Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft in Croydon, Ashcroft attended the Woodford School, Croydon and the Central School of Speech and Drama...
as Jean Wilsher - Peter ChelsomPeter ChelsomPeter Chelsom is a British actor and film director. He has directed among others such films as Shall We Dance? and Hannah Montana: The Movie...
as young Bernard - Shelagh McLeodShelagh McLeodShelagh McLeod is a British-based Canadian film and television actress.-Early life and education:She was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada....
as young Jean - Martin ShawMartin ShawMartin Shaw is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in shows such as The Professionals, The Chief, Judge John Deed and Inspector George Gently.-Theatrical background:...
as Jack Butcher - Faith BrookFaith BrookFaith Brook is an English actress who has appeared on stage, in films and on television.Her father was the actor Clive Brook, and her brother Lyndon Brook was also an actor. Her first credited film appearance was The Jungle Book in 1942...
as Mrs Wilsher
Sources
- Humphrey CarpenterHumphrey CarpenterHumphrey William Bouverie Carpenter was an English biographer, writer, and radio broadcaster.-Biography:...
, Dennis Potter: A Biography; 1998 - Graham Fuller (Ed.), Potter on Potter; 1993
- W. Stephen Gilbert, Fight & Kick & Bite: The Life and Work of Dennis Potter; 1995