One for the Road (Willy Russell play)
Encyclopedia
One For The Road is a comedic play by Willy Russell, written in 1976 and published in 1980. The script was revised and updated by Russell in 1985 and the rights are held by Samuel French Ltd.
It is not to be confused with the Harold Pinter
play of the same name. It was originally entitled 'The Tupperware Man' (in reference to a comedic speech from Dennis over dinner at the beginning of Act II) and performed under this name until a legal threat from Tupperware
. It then became 'Painted Veg And Parkinson'.
The cast of four comprises Dennis Cain, his wife Pauline, later joined by Jane and Roger, and the setting is a bungalow in Castlehills, a fictional new middle-class housing development in the north of England. The cast await the arrival of Dennis' parents, lost in the warren of identical roads and bungalows, whilst discussing the wave of puerile vandalism that has inflicted, it seems mysteriously, all but the Cain's gardens. The 'Parnes Kids' are blamed for gnome decapitations, painted garden vegetables, Radox
filled fountains and a Venus de Milo with arms stuck on it - but could the culprit be closer to home? What is in Dennis' Queen Anne
bureau?
Off-stage characters are referenced frequently and conversed with; most frequently Dennis's mother and father on the telephone and Val from next door. In the 1985 version, the line 'Mummy, Mummy!' from John, the Cain's young son, is heard towards the end.
The play contains a number of contemporary cultural references including Terry Wogan
as a prime time interviewer (Michael Parkinson in the 1980 original script); Russell Harty
; Richard Claydermann; Margaret Thatcher
's tax policy (1985 version only); The Jewel in the Crown
(1985 version only); the 'video nasties' controversy.
Despite not being as well-known as Russell's Shirley Valentine, Blood Brothers and Educating Rita, the play has been adapted for television and performed several times over the years, professionally and under amateur licence.
References:
http://www.willyrussell.com/one4road.html
Samuel French Ltd.
Samuel French Ltd is the UK sister company of Samuel French Inc., an American company, bearing the name of its co-founder Samuel French. The company publishes stage plays for the UK market, mostly acting editions, serves as licensing agent for performance rights, and runs the UK's leading...
It is not to be confused with the Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter, CH, CBE was a Nobel Prize–winning English playwright and screenwriter. One of the most influential modern British dramatists, his writing career spanned more than 50 years. His best-known plays include The Birthday Party , The Homecoming , and Betrayal , each of which he adapted to...
play of the same name. It was originally entitled 'The Tupperware Man' (in reference to a comedic speech from Dennis over dinner at the beginning of Act II) and performed under this name until a legal threat from Tupperware
Tupperware
Tupperware is the name of a home products line that includes preparation, storage, containment, and serving products for the kitchen and home, which were first introduced to the public in 1946....
. It then became 'Painted Veg And Parkinson'.
The cast of four comprises Dennis Cain, his wife Pauline, later joined by Jane and Roger, and the setting is a bungalow in Castlehills, a fictional new middle-class housing development in the north of England. The cast await the arrival of Dennis' parents, lost in the warren of identical roads and bungalows, whilst discussing the wave of puerile vandalism that has inflicted, it seems mysteriously, all but the Cain's gardens. The 'Parnes Kids' are blamed for gnome decapitations, painted garden vegetables, Radox
Radox
Radox is a brand of bubble bath and shower gels available in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Czech Republic, Australia, Malaysia and South Africa. It comes in both bath salt and liquid form...
filled fountains and a Venus de Milo with arms stuck on it - but could the culprit be closer to home? What is in Dennis' Queen Anne
Queen Anne
"Queen Anne" generally refers to Anne, Queen of Great Britain , Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1702, and of Great Britain from 1707.Queen Anne may also refer to:-Uses relating to Queen Anne of Great Britain:...
bureau?
Off-stage characters are referenced frequently and conversed with; most frequently Dennis's mother and father on the telephone and Val from next door. In the 1985 version, the line 'Mummy, Mummy!' from John, the Cain's young son, is heard towards the end.
The play contains a number of contemporary cultural references including Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
as a prime time interviewer (Michael Parkinson in the 1980 original script); Russell Harty
Russell Harty
Russell Harty was an English television presenter of arts programmes and chat shows.-Early life:Born Frederick Russell Harty in Blackburn, Lancashire, he was the son of a fruit and vegetable stallholder on the local market...
; Richard Claydermann; Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's tax policy (1985 version only); The Jewel in the Crown
The Jewel in the Crown
The Jewel in the Crown is a British television serial about the final days of the British Raj in India during World War II, based upon the Raj Quartet novels by Paul Scott...
(1985 version only); the 'video nasties' controversy.
Despite not being as well-known as Russell's Shirley Valentine, Blood Brothers and Educating Rita, the play has been adapted for television and performed several times over the years, professionally and under amateur licence.
References:
http://www.willyrussell.com/one4road.html