The After-Dinner Joke
Encyclopedia
The After-Dinner Joke is a television play in the epic
form written by the English playwright Caryl Churchill
for the BBC1
Play for Today
series which was broadcast on 14 February 1978.
Unfolding through a sequence of 66 short, episodic scenes and utilising a large number of characters, the drama explores the politics of charity
through the story of a young woman called Selby who wants "to do good." As a charity worker, she studiously avoids becoming embroiled in political issues, only to discover during the course of the action that this is impossible. "There's something political about everything," a local Mayor assures her.
Colin Bucksey
directed the television production, which featured Paula Wilcox
as Selby, Richard Vernon
as Price, Clive Merrison
as Dent and Derek Smith as the Mayor.
It has also been produced for the stage.
Epic theatre
Epic theatre was a theatrical movement arising in the early to mid-20th century from the theories and practice of a number of theatre practitioners, including Erwin Piscator, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Vsevolod Meyerhold and, most famously, Bertolt Brecht...
form written by the English playwright Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill is an English dramatist known for her use of non-naturalistic techniques and feminist themes, the abuses of power, and sexual politics. She is acknowledged as a major playwright in the English language and a leading female writer...
for the BBC1
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
Play for Today
Play for Today
Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage plays and novels, were transmitted...
series which was broadcast on 14 February 1978.
Unfolding through a sequence of 66 short, episodic scenes and utilising a large number of characters, the drama explores the politics of charity
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
through the story of a young woman called Selby who wants "to do good." As a charity worker, she studiously avoids becoming embroiled in political issues, only to discover during the course of the action that this is impossible. "There's something political about everything," a local Mayor assures her.
Colin Bucksey
Colin Bucksey
Colin Bucksey is a British-born American film and television director.Since the 1970s, He has amassed a number of credits in the television industry directing episodes of Crown Court, Armchair Thriller and Educating Marmalade.He eventually moved on to American television, directing episodes of...
directed the television production, which featured Paula Wilcox
Paula Wilcox
Paula Wilcox is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Chrissy in the British comedy Man About the House .-Early sitcom fame:...
as Selby, Richard Vernon
Richard Vernon
Richard Vernon was a British actor. He appeared in many feature films and television programmes, often in aristocratic or supercilious roles...
as Price, Clive Merrison
Clive Merrison
Clive Merrison is a Welsh actor of film, television, stage and radio. He trained at Rose Bruford College.- Television :...
as Dent and Derek Smith as the Mayor.
It has also been produced for the stage.
Sources
- Churchill, Caryl. 1990. Shorts. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 9781854590855.