The First Joanna
| Company type | Theatrical play |
|---|---|
| Industry | Theatre, Radio, Television |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Founder | Dorothy Blewett |
| Products | Play, radio adaptation, television adaptation |
| Parent | Australian Broadcasting Corporation (for radio and TV adaptations) |
The First Joanna is a theatrical work from 1943 by Dorothy Blewett, which was later transformed into both radio and television formats.
Plot
Joanna, an Englishwoman, weds an Australian vintner and relocates to his ancestral residence in South Australia. Discontented with her circumstances, she contemplates leaving until she uncovers the diary of the original Joanna, who constructed the house during the colonial era.
Production history
The play secured victory in a 1947 competition.
In 1948, the ABC adapted it for radio, featuring English actress Jane Barrett, who was present in Australia for the film Eureka Stockade.
That same year, the play was performed at May Hollinworth's Metropolitan Theatre with a cast including John Bushelle, Lynne Murphy, Betty Lucas, Wanda Herbert, Marcel Wattel, Lola Sweeney portraying the first Joanna, and Dinah Shearing as the second Joanna.
1961 television adaptation
Playwright Wal Cherry crafted a television version of The First Joanna for ABC Television, under the direction of Christopher Muir. This 75-minute broadcast premiered in 1961 on ABV-2 Melbourne and was subsequently shown in Sydney. During a period when Australian TV drama was rare, ABC also produced Blewett's Quiet Night within the same year.
Plot
After six years apart due to World War Two and her captivity in a German concentration camp, Joanna reunites with her husband Stephen Deveron, who owns a vineyard in South Australia. Finding rural life uninspiring, she considers returning to England.
Two eccentric Deveron aunts, both aged 92, present Joanna with a tapestry chair that belonged to the first Joanna. Concealed within are two diaries chronicling the experiences of the original Joanna and her spouse Stephen.
Cast - Modern Era
- Lee Norton as the second Joanna
- Norman Kaye as Stephen Deveron
- Madeline Howell as Jocelyn
- Kevin Miles as Halley van Drutten
- Barbara Brandon as Editha
- Lorna Forbes as Viola
- Olive Verdon as Mrs Collins
- Stewart Weller as Jackson
Cast - Colonial Era
- Pat Connolly as the first Joanna
- Norman Kaye as Stephen Deveron
- Peter LaTrobe as Captain Jules Smith
- William Lloyd as Sir Bertram Tavener
- Natalie Raine as Lady Caroline Tavener
- Laura James as Beatrice Tavener
- Fay Kelton as Augusta
- George Whaley as a soldier
- Rohonda Nunquam as Editha
- Diana Sinnamon as Viola
- Roland Heimans as Phillip
Production
Dorothy Blewett intended the play to examine the significance of family heritage while cautioning against its misapplication. She stressed confronting Australia's past honestly and honoring the pioneering spirit integral to its formation.
Filming occurred at Melbourne ABC TV studios in Ripponlea, with vineyard scenes captured on location at Chateau Tahbilk. Blewett, residing in Melbourne, participated in numerous rehearsals. This production marked the Australian television debuts of esteemed stage performers Norman Kaye and Lee Norton.
Producer Chris Muir aimed to introduce new performers unfamiliar to viewers, selecting Norman Kaye and Peter Latrobe after evaluating local theatre work.
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald acknowledged the production's achievement despite moments where the play veered into melodramatic territory, commending Patricia Connolly for her authentic portrayal and praising Muir's expansive and detailed set designs.
Conversely, Filmink characterized the production as somewhat unpolished, pointing to exaggerated performances alongside relatively simple sets and costumes. Although Blewett’s original work was noted for its compelling characters and themes, the adaptation faced criticism for adhering too closely to the source material, preserving an excess of characters and storylines that diluted dramatic clarity. The review also singled out Norman Kaye’s early appearance as a highlight.
External links
- 1961 Australian television plays
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
- Australian English-language television shows
- 1961 television plays
- 1943 plays
- 1940s Australian plays
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation television plays
- Television plays filmed in Melbourne
- Television plays directed by Chris Muir
- Australian plays adapted for television
- Plays set in South Australia
- Plays set in colonial Australia