The Reluctant Debutante (play)
Encyclopedia
The Reluctant Debutante is a 1955 play by the British playwright William Douglas-Home
.
It was first performed (for a 'try-out' week) at the Theatre Royal Brighton after William Douglas-Home spotted the untrained 17-year-old actress Anna Massey
and brought her in to audition for the title role. After she wowed the Brighton audiences the play quickly transferred to the Cambridge Theatre, London on 24th May 1955, where it enjoyed a long run with Wilfred Hyde-White continuing to play the father and Celia Johnson
the neurotic mother, Sheila Broadbent. The production was directed by Jack Minster.
On June 30th, 1955, MGM bought the film and stage rights to this hit London success with the aim of taking it to Broadway.
In 1956 the play premièred on Broadway at the Henry Miller's Theatre
with a mostly changed cast but still with Anna Massey
in the lead and Wilfred Hyde-White playing her father
seasons. It is a light-hearted, almost farcical, comedy which revolves around the mother's deep anxiety and attempts to avoid scandal after she confuses two men (both called David) and accidentally sets up her daughter with 'David Hoylake-Johnston' (who has a reputation as a philanderer) instead of 'David Bulloch' (who she believes to be the perfect match for her daughter).
The debutante season was designed for aristocratic parents to find 'suitable' husbands for their daughters by throwing (often very expensive) parties and inviting eligible bachelors. 'Sheila Broadbent', the mother of Jane (the eponymous 'Reluctant Debutante'), is petrified that her daughter will lose the chance to meet a good husband if there is a scandal - i.e. 'David Hoylake-Johnston' charming her into having sex; something it is rumoured he has done before with other girls. But, at the same time, the rumours are only rumours so she cannot be rude to him, especially after accidentally inviting him to be Jane's date for the night.
In 1958 it was made into a film by MGM and on 28th February 1966 ITV
produced the story as a teleplay
The play was most recently produced by Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
prior to a national tour
William Douglas-Home
William Douglas Home was court-martialled in World War II for his refusal to obey orders as a British army officer and later became a successful British dramatist.-Early life:...
.
It was first performed (for a 'try-out' week) at the Theatre Royal Brighton after William Douglas-Home spotted the untrained 17-year-old actress Anna Massey
Anna Massey
Anna Raymond Massey, CBE was an English actress. She won a BAFTA Award for the role of Edith Hope in the 1986 TV adaptation of Anita Brookner’s novel Hotel du Lac.-Early life:...
and brought her in to audition for the title role. After she wowed the Brighton audiences the play quickly transferred to the Cambridge Theatre, London on 24th May 1955, where it enjoyed a long run with Wilfred Hyde-White continuing to play the father and Celia Johnson
Celia Johnson
Dame Celia Elizabeth Johnson DBE was an English actress.She began her stage acting career in 1928, and subsequently achieved success in West End and Broadway productions. She also appeared in several films, including the romantic drama Brief Encounter , for which she received a nomination for the...
the neurotic mother, Sheila Broadbent. The production was directed by Jack Minster.
On June 30th, 1955, MGM bought the film and stage rights to this hit London success with the aim of taking it to Broadway.
In 1956 the play premièred on Broadway at the Henry Miller's Theatre
Henry Miller's Theatre
The Stephen Sondheim Theatre, formerly Henry Miller's Theatre, is a Broadway theatre located at 124 West 43rd Street, between Broadway and 6th Avenue, in Manhattan's Theatre District.-History:...
with a mostly changed cast but still with Anna Massey
Anna Massey
Anna Raymond Massey, CBE was an English actress. She won a BAFTA Award for the role of Edith Hope in the 1986 TV adaptation of Anita Brookner’s novel Hotel du Lac.-Early life:...
in the lead and Wilfred Hyde-White playing her father
The Plot
The plot follows an aristocratic family during one of London's debutanteDebutante
A débutante is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "début" presentation. It should not be confused with a Debs...
seasons. It is a light-hearted, almost farcical, comedy which revolves around the mother's deep anxiety and attempts to avoid scandal after she confuses two men (both called David) and accidentally sets up her daughter with 'David Hoylake-Johnston' (who has a reputation as a philanderer) instead of 'David Bulloch' (who she believes to be the perfect match for her daughter).
The debutante season was designed for aristocratic parents to find 'suitable' husbands for their daughters by throwing (often very expensive) parties and inviting eligible bachelors. 'Sheila Broadbent', the mother of Jane (the eponymous 'Reluctant Debutante'), is petrified that her daughter will lose the chance to meet a good husband if there is a scandal - i.e. 'David Hoylake-Johnston' charming her into having sex; something it is rumoured he has done before with other girls. But, at the same time, the rumours are only rumours so she cannot be rude to him, especially after accidentally inviting him to be Jane's date for the night.
Original Cast (1955-56)
- Anna MasseyAnna MasseyAnna Raymond Massey, CBE was an English actress. She won a BAFTA Award for the role of Edith Hope in the 1986 TV adaptation of Anita Brookner’s novel Hotel du Lac.-Early life:...
as Jane Broadbent - Wilfred Hyde-White as Jimmy Broadbent
- Celia JohnsonCelia JohnsonDame Celia Elizabeth Johnson DBE was an English actress.She began her stage acting career in 1928, and subsequently achieved success in West End and Broadway productions. She also appeared in several films, including the romantic drama Brief Encounter , for which she received a nomination for the...
as Sheila Broadbent - John MerivaleJohn MerivaleJohn Herman Merivale , also known as Jack Merivale, was a British theatre actor, and occasional supporting player in British films.-Biography:...
as David Hoylake-Johnston - Peter Myers as David Bulloch
- Ambrosine PhillpottsAmbrosine Phillpotts-Selected filmography:* This Man Is Mine * The Chiltern Hundreds * The Franchise Affair * Happy Go Lovely * Mr...
as Mabel Crosswaite - Anna Steele as Clarissa Crosswaite
- Gwynne Whitby as Mrs Edgar
Original Broadway Cast (1956-57)
- Anna MasseyAnna MasseyAnna Raymond Massey, CBE was an English actress. She won a BAFTA Award for the role of Edith Hope in the 1986 TV adaptation of Anita Brookner’s novel Hotel du Lac.-Early life:...
as Jane Broadbent - Wilfred Hyde-White as Jimmy Broadbent
- Adrianne AllenAdrianne AllenAdrianne Allen was an English stage actress.Most often seen in light comedy, played Sybil Chase in the original West End production of Private Lives and Elizabeth Bennet in the 1935 Broadway production of Pride and Prejudice.She appeared in several films and was the mother of Daniel and Anna...
as Sheila Broadbent - John MerivaleJohn MerivaleJohn Herman Merivale , also known as Jack Merivale, was a British theatre actor, and occasional supporting player in British films.-Biography:...
as David Hoylake-Johnston - David Cole as David Bulloch
- Brenda ForbesBrenda ForbesBrenda Forbes was a British-American actress of stage and screen.Born as Brenda Evelyn Taylor in Rochford, Essex, the daughter of E. J...
as Mabel Crosswaite - Christina Gillespie as Clarissa Crosswaite
- Reneé Gadd as Mrs Edgar
In 1958 it was made into a film by MGM and on 28th February 1966 ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
produced the story as a teleplay
Teleplay
A teleplay is a television play, a comedy or drama written or adapted for television. The term surfaced during the 1950s with wide usage to distinguish a television plays from stage plays for the theater and screenplays written for films...
ITV Play of the week cast (1966)
- Philippa GailPhilippa Gail-Selected filmography:Film* This Is My Street * Ring of Bright Water * She'll Follow You Anywhere Television* The Jazz Age* Sexton Blake* Riviera Police* The Troubleshooters* The Bill...
as Jane Broadbent - Leslie PhillipsLeslie PhillipsLeslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...
as Jimmy Broadbent - Joan GreenwoodJoan GreenwoodJoan Greenwood was an English actress. Born in Chelsea, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Her husky voice, coupled with her slow, precise elocution, was her trademark...
as Sheila Broadbent - Paul Ferris as David Hoylake-Johnston
- Raymond Clarke as David Bulloch
- Georgine Cookson as Mabel Crosswaite
- Anna CarteretAnna CarteretAnna Carteret is a British stage and screen actress, born in Bangalore, India the daughter of Peter John Wilkinson and his wife Patricia Carteret . She is married to the television and film director Christopher Morahan and has often worked with him...
as Clarissa Crosswaite - Virginia Clay as Mrs Edgar
The play was most recently produced by Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Surrey presents in-house productions which often tour and transfer to London's West End. Other performances include opera, ballet and pantomime. Named after the actress Yvonne Arnaud, the company has two performance venues, a main theatre and the smaller Mill...
prior to a national tour
UK national tour (2011)
- Louise Calf as Jane Broadbent
- Clive FrancisClive Francis-Early life:He is the son of actors Raymond Francis and Margaret Towner. He was born in Eastbourne.His father played Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart in the 1960s series No Hiding Place and his mother still acts today - most recently she played Jira, Anakin Skywalker's friend, in Star...
as Jimmy Broadbent - Jane AsherJane AsherJane Asher is an English actress. She has also developed a second career as a cake decorator and cake shop proprietor.-Early life:...
as Sheila Broadbent - Ed Cooper Clarke as David Hoylake-Johnston
- Alex Felton as David Bulloch
- Belinda LangBelinda LangBelinda Lang is an English actress, best known in the United Kingdom for her role as Bill Porter in the long running BBC sitcom 2point4 children .-Television:...
as Mabel Crosswaite - Lucy May BarkerLucy May BarkerLucy May Barker is a British stage and screen actress. She was born and brought up in Lincoln, Lincolnshire.-Career:Most notably, Lucy played Ilse in the original London cast of the four-time Olivier Award-winning Spring Awakening which opened in February 2009 at the Lyric Hammersmith...
as Clarissa Crosswaite - Andrea Miller as Mrs Edgar