BBC TELEVISION
Presents
TONIGHT AT 8.30
Starring
JOAN COLLINS
In A Series Of Eight Playlets
By
Noel Coward
Aka : COLLINS MEETS COWARD ( USA )
Executive Producer Joan Collins
Original Stories by Noel Coward
Adapted by Bryan Izzard
Episode 1 -
HANDS ACROSS THE SEA
Starring
Joan Collins as Piggie Gilpin
John Nettles as Peter Gilpin
Miriam Margolyes as Mrs Wadhurst
Sian Phillips as Clare Wedderburn
Nikolas Grace as Bogey Gosling
Edward Duke as Ally Corbett
Vera Jakob as Walters
Richard Dempsey as Mr Burnham
Directed by Paul Annett
A wealthy couple invites people over for drinks, and a couple arrives whom they don't recognize at all. They believe the two are someone else and spend their time trying to remember where they met and what they did before this meeting.
Episode 2 -
RED PEPPERS
Starring
Joan Collins as Lily Pepper
Anthony Newley as George Pepper
Reg Varney as Bert Bentley
Henry McGee as Mr Edwards
Richard Dempsey as Alf
Directed by Bryan Izzard
Red Peppers is an interlude with music! Second rate music hall act Lily & George Pepper, when not playing it up on stage, spend their down time bickering in their dressing room and running down the other acts.
EPISODE 3 -
THE ASTONISHED HEART
Joan Collins as Leonora Vaile
Sian Phillips as Barbara Faber
John Alderton as Christian Faber
Jessica Martin as Susan Birch
Edward Duke as Tim Verney
Edward Jewesbury as Sir Reginald French
Directed by Paul Annett
School friends meet again after many years, and while a wife holds the candle for her Doctor husband, the friend has an affair with him, creating torment among the three until tragedy tears them apart.
EPISODE 4 -
FAMILY ALBUM
Starring
Joan Collins as Lavinia
Denis Quilley as Jasper
Bonnie Langford as Emily
John Alderton as Burrows
Richard Kane as Richard
Liza Sadovy as Harriet
Charles Collingwood as Charles
Dominic Jephcott as Edward
Directed by John Glenister
Following their father's death, his family of survivors make plans for the future. When they open a trunk, they find costumes they'd played with as children and the tense funereal air is suddenly lightened, leading to singing and dancing.
EPISODE 5 -
FUMED OAK
Starring
Anthony Newley as Henry Gow
Joan Sims as Mrs Rockett
Prudence Oliver as Elsie Gow
Directed by John Glenister
After being browbeaten by his overbearing wife and mother-in-law, and his spoiled daughter, a man makes the choice to leave his family. When he informs them of his best-laid plans, they are astonished, because now they must learn to fend for themselves
EPISODE 6 -
WAYS AND MEANS
Starring
Joan Collins as Stella Cartwright
John Standing as Toby Cartwright
Sian Phillips as Olive Lloyd Ransome
Harold Innocent as Gaston
Tony Slattery as Stevens
Edward Duke as Lord Chapworth
Kate O'Sullivan as Princess Elena Krassiloff
Directed by Paul Annett
After a night in the casino in Cannes, the Cartwrights realize they're broke. Furthermore, their hostess needs to turn them out, because their suite is needed for incoming guests. When a thief arrives to rob them, they plan ways and means to benefit themselves, and the robber.
EPISODE 7 -
STILL LIFE
Starring
Joan Collins as Myrtle Bagot
Jane Asher as Laura Jesson
Diane Langton as Beryl Waters
Norman Rossington as Albert Godby
Steve Nicholson as Stanley
Moyra Fraser as Dolly Messiter
Directed by Sydney Lotterby
A doctor and a housewife meet by happenstance at a train station, and through five beautifully played scenes, they fall in love, but the relationship is doomed to fail, because both are married to others, and the doctor has plans for a future away from England
EPISODE 8 -
SHADOW PLAY
Starring
Joan Collins as Vicky
Simon Williams as Simon
Jean Anderson as Aunt Martha
Robert Meadmore as Michael
Carrie Ellis as Sibyl
Edward Duke as Young Man
Edward Jewesbury as Uncle George
Directed by John Glenister
A Musical Fantasy ... Vicky & Simon's marriage is on the brink of collapse. When Vicky takes a does of sleeping pill to calm a headache, she dreams of the perfect marriage in a musical interlude. When Simon finds her unwakable, deeply concerned their love is rekindled.
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| Joan with John Alderton, Anthony Newley, John Standing, Norman Rossington Dennis Quilley |
After Joan finished her run on 'Dynasty' she was determined to get away from the Alexis type roles and return to her first love the theatre. In 1990 she returned to the British stage in a revival of one of her favourite plays 'Private Lives' by Noel Coward. Ever since she had been at RADA she wanted to play the part of Amanda, but only managed to play the maid! Finally she got to star as Amanda in a production which played the Aldwych theatre alogside Keith Baxter.. She then opened on Broadway in a lmited run in 1992 with co star Simon Jones, but in between these productions she filmed this series of eight of Noel's playlets and starred in a variety of roles and guises. With a wonderful supporting cast and with Joan's great style and wit the series is a joy and although not a hugh ratings hit, it is certainly a worthwhile, quality production.
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| Joan with Keith Baxter in the London productin of 'Private Lives' |
The series has never been released as a stand alone dvd set, however the full series is available on a box set of various BBC productions over the years of Noel Coward's various works.. You can order the set at the following link!
ORDER THE NOEL COWARD COLLEVTION HERE!
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