It's the Geography That Counts
| Company type | Theatrical work / Play |
|---|---|
| Industry | Theatre / Entertainment |
| Founded | 1957 |
| Founder | Raymond Bowers |
| Products | Play, radio drama, television adaptations |
It's the Geography That Counts is a theatrical work from 1957 penned by Australian playwright Raymond Bowers.
Premise
The narrative follows Marshall Arnitt, a professional race car driver, who spends a weekend with his mother in southern England. During this time, his foster brother James takes Marshall’s vehicle without consent and collides with a cyclist near the Scotland-England border. Marshall assumes responsibility for the incident, but upon discovering their mother has been murdered, he deliberately leaves evidence to implicate James.
Original play
The production debuted at London’s St James Theatre in June 1957, featuring John Gregson in his first stage appearance after a six-year hiatus. Notably, this was the final show staged at the St James Theatre.
Original cast
- John Gregson as Marshall Armitt
- John Stratton as James Armitt
- Jane Griffiths as Mercia
- Liam Redmond as Hurst
- Jack Hedley as Daniels
- Michael Duffield as Parker
Reception
Variety critiqued the play for its overly verbose dialogue and intricate storyline but recognized its strong dramatic elements, proposing that it might be better suited for film adaptation. The London Times described it as "dryly entertaining" with enduring appeal. Despite interest from critics, Variety reported that the production did not achieve commercial success.
In 1957, Bowers commented, "My primary goal is financial success. To accomplish that, I must entertain. Any philosophical musings will wait until I am more established."
Other adaptations
In 1958, the story was transformed into an Australian radio drama titled The Man in Question.
1961 British TV adaptation - Listen James
The BBC adapted the play for television under the name Listen James in 1961. The Times lauded it as "an engaging and effective piece of mystification," emphasizing its focus on a puzzle-like plot rather than character exploration.
1960 Australian TV play
An Australian television version was produced in 1960, directed by Christopher Muir and filmed in Melbourne. Muir remarked that "the dialogue contains all the clues, cleverly hidden," offering a demanding experience for viewers. The broadcast was restricted to Melbourne, with no evidence of a broader release.
Subsequently, ABC adapted another thriller written by Raymond Bowers titled In Writing (1961), which was among several early Australian TV suspense dramas contributing to the network’s expanding dramatic repertoire.
Cast
- Marie Redshaw as Marcia
- Keith Eden as Marshall Arnitt, racing driver
- Kenneth Goodlet as Inspector Hurst
- Brian Burton as Det-Sgt Daniels
- William Lloyd as Parker
External links
- 1962 radio adaptation at Internet Archive
- Complete BBC television version