''The Cell'' is an Australian play by Robert Wales. The setting is in a school for delinquent girls.

Background

The play debuted in 1966. The play was published in 1971.

1968 Australian TV version

It was adapted for television by the ABC in 1968, directed by John Croyston, and broadcast as part of the Seek and Destroy series. That was a short lived anthology series which consisted of four BBC plays and one Australian play - ''The Cell'' was the Australian play. Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time. ''The Cell'' was made when Australian TV stations were investing less in TV plays and more in serials.

Plot

Sister Catherine is in charge of a school for delinquent girls. She resents being passed over as Mother Superior of the Convent. When the new Mother Superior, Mother Denis, arrives, there is a clash of personalities between the two. This is heightened when Sister Catherine sides with a young nun, Sister Lenora, who has broken the discipline of the convent. When the Mother Superior dies, Sister Catherine, who was in charge of the convent infirmary and drugs, comes under suspicion.

Cast

Ruth Cracknell Ruth Winifred Cracknell AM (6 July 1925 – 13 May 2002) was an Australian character and comic actress, comedian and author. Her career encompassed all genres, including radio, theatre, television, and film. She appeared in many dramatic as wel ...

as Sister Catherine * June Winchester as Mother Denis * Betty Lucas as Sister Lenora *

Don Crosby George Wallace Donald Crosby, Order of Australia, OAM (29 October 1924 – 3 December 1985) was an Australians, Australian actor of radio, stage, television and film, radio producer, stage manager, airman and trade unionist. Early life The fift ...

Production

Croyston decided to film the action all in one take "to enable the cast to hold the edge of emotional distraction".

Reception

The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' called the production "a victory for the local industry". The same reviewer later called it one of the best TV plays of the year saying "for writing and execution this play had class, high class."

1968 British version

It was also adapted for television by the BBC in England as ''A Swallow's Nest'' in 1968.

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cell 1960s Australian television plays 1966 plays 1968 television plays 1960s Australian plays Australian plays adapted for television