Six Charlies in Search of An Author
Encyclopedia
Six Charlies in Search of An Author is an episode of the classic radio comedy, The Goon Show
. It was first broadcast on 26 December 1956.
The title is a parody of the play Six Characters in Search of an Author
, by Luigi Pirandello
. While the plot revolves around the common scenario of Neddie Seagoon
being blackmailed by Hercules Grytpype-Thynne
and Count Jim Moriarty
, its development appears to blur the lines between the writer and the characters. The characters refer to places and times as chapters or pages, the author appears in the story and the characters themselves can edit the plot.
photographs'. Neddie decides to pawn himself at Henry Crun's pawnshop to pay for the photograph; however, he cannot leave the pawnshop safe until redeemed.
Neddie uses the ten pounds to redeem himself, but then has nothing to pay off his blackmailers with. Asking Wallace Greenslade
the announcer (who has peeked ahead in the book) for help it is revealed that Major Bloodnok
has the photographs for safekeeping.
Arriving at Bloodnok's, Neddie finds that the photographs are in a safe, and Bloodnok does not have the combination. At this point, the characters begin to alter the book with a typewriter
, and everything they write comes true. Neddie forces Bloodnok to work by describing him working. Bloodnok retaliates by doing the same. Bluebottle
is written in by the author to help them. He has some "silent explosive".
Going back into the room, they are surprised at gunpoint by Moriarty and Grytpype-Thynne, who had played a recording of an explosion "written in without the author's knowledge". Neddie disarms Moriarty by writing in an empty gun, but Grytpype quickly writes in an escape with the photographs in a speedboat traveling up the Amazon river
. At that point Jim Spriggs, the author, appears and demands that they stop interfering with his book. Bloodnok sends him away by writing "...the author turned and left the room!"
Bluebottle, playing with the typewriter, imagines an attack by "Black Claw and
his Chinese pirates", ruining their pursuit of the villains. Reaching the banks of the river, they encounter Henry Crun, who tells them "Someone gave Min a typewriter and here I am!" Appealing to the author, they get a happy ending written for them as Neddie marries his fiancée Gladys Minkwater.
But Bluebottle still has the typewriter. He writes that Gladys deserts Neddie for him. The show ends with Neddie shouting "Come back! You're too young for that!" and Bluebottle responding "That's what you think! Yee hee!"
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
. It was first broadcast on 26 December 1956.
The title is a parody of the play Six Characters in Search of an Author
Six Characters in Search of an Author
Six Characters in Search of an Author is a play by the Italian writer Luigi Pirandello.The play is a satirical tragicomedy. It was first performed in 1921 at the Teatro Valle in Rome, to a very mixed reception, with shouts from the audience of "Manicomio!" .Subsequently the play enjoyed a much...
, by Luigi Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello was an Italian dramatist, novelist, and short story writer awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1934, for his "bold and brilliant renovation of the drama and the stage." Pirandello's works include novels, hundreds of short stories, and about 40 plays, some of which are written...
. While the plot revolves around the common scenario of Neddie Seagoon
Neddie Seagoon
Neddie Seagoon was a character in the 1950s British radio comedy show, The Goon Show. He was created and performed by Welshman Harry Secombe....
being blackmailed by Hercules Grytpype-Thynne
Hercules Grytpype-Thynne
Hercules Grytpype-Thynne was a character from the British 1950s comedy radio programme The Goon Show. He was voiced by Peter Sellers. In the episode "Who Is Pink Oboe?", Valentine Dyall filled-in for the role in Sellers' absence....
and Count Jim Moriarty
Count Jim Moriarty
Count Jim Moriarty is a character from the 1950s BBC Radio comedy The Goon Show. He was voiced by Spike Milligan...
, its development appears to blur the lines between the writer and the characters. The characters refer to places and times as chapters or pages, the author appears in the story and the characters themselves can edit the plot.
Plot
Ostensibly the plot is that of a book being written by Adolphus "Jim" Spriggs. Grytpype-Thynne blackmails Neddie with a 'compromising set of X-rayX-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
photographs'. Neddie decides to pawn himself at Henry Crun's pawnshop to pay for the photograph; however, he cannot leave the pawnshop safe until redeemed.
Neddie uses the ten pounds to redeem himself, but then has nothing to pay off his blackmailers with. Asking Wallace Greenslade
Wallace Greenslade
Wallace Greenslade was a BBC announcer and newsreader. He is mainly remembered for being the announcer - and frequently the straight man - for the BBC radio comedy series The Goon Show during most of its run.Greenslade was born at Formby, Lancashire...
the announcer (who has peeked ahead in the book) for help it is revealed that Major Bloodnok
Major Bloodnok
Major Denis Bloodnok, IND. ARM. RTD. coward and bar is a fictional character from the 1950s BBC Radio comedy The Goon Show. He was voiced by Peter Sellers.-Basis of character:...
has the photographs for safekeeping.
Arriving at Bloodnok's, Neddie finds that the photographs are in a safe, and Bloodnok does not have the combination. At this point, the characters begin to alter the book with a typewriter
Typewriter
A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with keys that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. Typically one character is printed per keypress, and the machine prints the characters by making ink impressions of type elements similar to the pieces...
, and everything they write comes true. Neddie forces Bloodnok to work by describing him working. Bloodnok retaliates by doing the same. Bluebottle
Bluebottle (character)
Bluebottle is a comedy character from the Goon Show, a 1950s British comedy radio show. The character was created and performed by Peter Sellers....
is written in by the author to help them. He has some "silent explosive".
- Neddie : Can't anybody hear it explode?
- Bluebottle : Only idiots.
- Sound FX : Explosion!
- Bluebottle : Did you hear anything, Captain?
- Neddie (after a long pause) : No...
- Bluebottle : Good. 'Cuz only idiots can hear explosions like that.
- Eccles (running up) : Here! What was that big explosion!
- Neddie : So you heard it too?
- Bloodnok : No comment.
Going back into the room, they are surprised at gunpoint by Moriarty and Grytpype-Thynne, who had played a recording of an explosion "written in without the author's knowledge". Neddie disarms Moriarty by writing in an empty gun, but Grytpype quickly writes in an escape with the photographs in a speedboat traveling up the Amazon river
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
. At that point Jim Spriggs, the author, appears and demands that they stop interfering with his book. Bloodnok sends him away by writing "...the author turned and left the room!"
Bluebottle, playing with the typewriter, imagines an attack by "Black Claw and
his Chinese pirates", ruining their pursuit of the villains. Reaching the banks of the river, they encounter Henry Crun, who tells them "Someone gave Min a typewriter and here I am!" Appealing to the author, they get a happy ending written for them as Neddie marries his fiancée Gladys Minkwater.
- Schnorrer : I pronounce you, Neddie Seagoon, and you Gladys Minkwater, man and wife, and leave you to discover which is which!
But Bluebottle still has the typewriter. He writes that Gladys deserts Neddie for him. The show ends with Neddie shouting "Come back! You're too young for that!" and Bluebottle responding "That's what you think! Yee hee!"
Unscripted Moments
When Neddie encounters Grytpype for the first time, he asks the "bone specialist", "What do you want?"- Grytpype : Bones.
- Neddie : I, er, I haven't got any.
- Grytpype : Nonsense, you fall down without them.
- Neddie : You'd fall down without them!
- Grytpype : You'd fall down without them!
- Sellers (giggling) : Take your choice! (both giggle)
Musical Interludes
- Max Geldray : When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-bob-bobbin' Along
- Ray Ellington : From the Bottom of My Heart