Alas, Poor Fred and A Slight Accident
by Rosmary Anne SissonDirected by Frank Dunlop
The Playhouse Theatre, Nottingham and Tour
First performance 24 October
1961
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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 -