THEATER IN AMERICA: THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramatic arts programs, presented under the umbrella of Great Performances. Host Hal Holbrook introduces Richard Brinsley Sheridan's satire of London society in 1776, performed by the Guthrie Theater Company.
As the production opens, two intertwining plots are developed. One concerns two brothers: the jealous, avaricious but seemingly studious Joseph, and the good-hearted but overly extravagant gambler Charles. Both are the nephews of the rich Sir Oliver, who has secretly returned from India after an absence of sixteen years. The second plot involves Sir Oliver's best friend, Sir Peter, who has been driven to jealous rages after marrying the young, beautiful and very flirtatious Lady Teazle. Lady Teazle is attracted to Joseph, but both Charles and Joseph love Sir Peter's virginal ward, Maria. The characters also interact with a group of high-society gossips, all of whom maliciously plot others' downfalls. After Sir Oliver and Sir Peter reunite, Sir Oliver announces a plan to test the allegiance of each of his nephews. Meanwhile, Sir Peter accuses Lady Teazle of betrayal and threatens divorce.
The profligate Charles is drinking with his friends when his rich uncle Sir Oliver arrives incognito as a money lender. Charles initially offends Sir Oliver with rude comments, but wins his friendship after refusing to sell a family portrait of a very young Oliver in wartime. Sir Oliver also find Charles to be generous in spirit. Meanwhile, the flirtatious Lady Teazel has a rendezvous with Joseph, Charles's scheming brother. Minutes later, her husband, Sir Peter arrives and she hides behind a screen. When Charles subsequently drops by, Sir Peter also hides. The ruse is discovered, and both Sir Peter and Lady Teazel discover that Joseph is a cheat and hypocrite. Sir Oliver disguises himself as a poor relative at Joseph's house and asks for aid. Joseph refuses, and insults Sir Oliver's reputation. Sir Oliver then decides to meet with both Joseph and Charles and reveal his true identity. Ultimately, Sir Oliver, Charles and Joseph converge with Sir Peter, Lady Teazel and Sir Peter's ward, Maria -- at which point all the lies, star-crossed romances and scandal-mongering is finally resolved.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: April 2, 1975 Wednesday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:53:07
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:58753
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1974-1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jac Venza … Executive Producer
- Phylis Geller … Associate Producer
- David Griffiths … Producer
- Nick Havinga … Director
- Michael Langham … Director
- Richard Brinsley Sheridan … Writer
- Michael Bawtree … Adapted by
- Stanley Silverman … Music by
- Christopher Langham … Lyricist
- Hal Holbrook … Host
- Macon McCalman … Cast, Rowley
- Larry Gates … Cast, Sir Oliver Surface
- Nicholas Kepros … Cast, Joseph Surface
- Kenneth Welsh … Cast, Charles Surface
- Lance Davis … Cast, Careless
- Jeff Chandler … Cast, Sir Harry Bumper, Crabtree
- Bernard Behrens … Cast, Sir Peter Teazle
- Patricia Conolly … Cast, Lady Sneerwell
- Ivan Brogger … Cast, Snake
- Sheriden Thomas … Cast, Maria
- Barbara Bryne … Cast, Mrs. Candour
- Mark Lamos … Cast, Sir Benjamin Backbite
- Frank Scott … Cast, Alfred
- Blair Brown … Cast, Lady Teazle
- Oliver Cliff … Cast, Moses
- Henry J. Jordan … Cast, Trip
- John Newcome … Cast, William
- Dennis Babcock … Cast
- Valery Daemke … Cast
- James Harris … Cast
- Maryann Lippay … Cast
- Gary Martinez … Cast
- William Schoppert … Cast
- Cleo Simonett … Cast
- Kendrick Wilson … Cast