Alas, Poor Fred and A Slight Accident

by Rosmary Anne Sisson
Directed by Frank Dunlop
The Playhouse Theatre, Nottingham and Tour

First performance 24 October
1961

  • A Slight Accident
    Frank Finlay ... Rodger
    Joan Heal ... Penelope
    Rosamund Greenwood ... Camillia
    Nottingham Playhouse; Rodger was played by Patrick Blackwell.

    Alas, Poor Fred
    Frank Finlay ... Mr Pringle
    Joan Heal ... Mrs Pringle

    William Hartnell, of Dr Who fame, was cast to play opposite Joan Heal however he was struck down with influenza. With only three days notice Frank stepped in to take over the role of Mr Pringle and Patrick Blackwell took the role of Rodger. It would seem that Frank took over both roles on the subsequent tour.

    "Mr Finlay in saving the play from disaster covers himself with something very like glory. Apart from a little repetitiveness of one line of comic business his performance can scarcely be faulted".

    See Guardian article below -