"Topaze" is a 1966 Australian TV play based on the 1928 play by the French writer

Marcel Pagnol Marcel Paul Pagnol (; 28 February 1895 – 18 April 1974) was a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker. Regarded as an auteur, in 1946, he became the first filmmaker elected to the Académie française. Although his work is less fashionabl ...

. It aired on 6 April 1966 in Sydney, on 30 March 1966 in Melbourne, and on 27 April 1966 in Brisbane.

Plot

Topaze is a school master sacked for being too honest who, subsequently, becomes involved with thieves.

Cast

*Mark Albiston as Topaze *Fernande Glyn as Suzy *

Allan Trevor Allan Trevor (1923 - 1969) was an Australian actor, writer and producer. Early life He worked on the land for nearly six years but changed careers when he realised he would not earn enough money to buy his own farm. He undertook various other job ...

as Castel-Benac *Patricia Kennedy as Baroness *

Fay Kelton Fay Kelton (Born in Tasmania between 1940–41), is an Australian former actress radio, stage and television, she relocated to Melbourne in her teens. She was a regular performer on the ABC radio serial '' Blue Hills'' (1949-1976), and also a ...

as Ernestine, daughter of the headmaster *

Terry Norris Terry is a unisex given name, derived from French Thierry and Theodoric. It can also be used as a diminutive nickname for the names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence or Terrier (masculine). People Male * Terry Albritton (1955–2005), Ame ...

as Tamise *Edward Howell as Journalist *Jack Allan as Muche *Robert Bogden as Roger *Peter Drake as Butler *Diana Wilson as Typist *Christie Clayton as Typist *Ron Hoenig as Pupil

Production

This was director Christopher Muir's first production back in Australia after six months abroad. It was the first locally produced edition of ''Wednesday Theatre'' for 1966. The production was given an Edwardian setting designed by Cass van Pufelen. Muir said "essentially the play shows how men can be corrupted by power. Marcel Pagnol... begins all his plays as amusing, lighthearted comedies. However as the plot unfolds you find there's some extremely important point which he's trying to get across. In Topaze we see how a timid, almost stupid person becomes a cold hearted business tycoon. The peculiar twists of fate which produce a totally different man give you something to think about."

Reception

The '' Sydney Morning Herald'' said "''Topaze'' is a fine French satire and the Melbourne production was impeccable... Nobody could complain about how it was done. But to the Australian people... of 1966 it could only look and sound like a fussy little piece about some French types who may have lived 40 years ago...The A.B.C. has no right to spend money, time and effort on a little show. In fact, the executives who selected Pagnol's play could take a cue from one line spoken by Fernunde Glyn: "I think you might go out and meet people"."

References

1966 television plays 1966 Australian television episodes 1960s Australian television plays Wednesday Theatre (season 2) episodes Adaptations of works by Marcel Pagnol {{tv-episode-stub