It's the Geography That Counts

It's the Geography That Counts is a 1957 play by Australian writer Raymond Bowers.

Original Play

It premiered in St James Theatre in London in June 1957 in a production starring John Gregson, that actor's first appearance on stage in six years. It would be the last production held at St James Theatre[1]

Original Cast
  • John Gregson as Marshal Armitt
  • John Stratton as James Armitt
  • Jane Griffiths as Mercia
  • Liam Redmond as Hurst
  • Jack Hedley as Daniels
  • Michael Duffield as Parker

Reception

Variety said "Too much talk and an over-complication of plot mar this otherwise ingenious whodunit. Basically It is a good dramatic story, but the first half consists practically of an involved duolog, with the first real punch Coming at halftime... a good play doctor could streamline this first' effort of a Fleet Street newspaperman, and it could be improved if skilfully adapted to the screen."[2]

Variety said the production was a financial failure.[3]

"My first aim is to make money," Bowers said in 1957. "To do that you have to entertain. If I have any philosophising to do, I'll leave it until I'm well established."[4]

Other Adaptations

It was adapted for Australian radio in 1958 as The Man in Question.[5]

It was filmed by the BBC in 1961 as Listen James.[6][7]

1960 Australian TV Play
Ad from The Age 2 Nov 1960

The play was adapted for Australian television in 1960. It aired in Melbourne on 2 November 1960. [8]

It was directed by Chris Muir, who said "all the clues are contained in the dialogue, but it is cleverly concealed. It will be a fairly tough test for the amateur detectives."[9]

Cast
  • Marie Redshaw as Marcia
  • Keith Eden as Marshall Amitt, a racing driver
  • Kenneth Goodlet as Inspector Hurst
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References
  1. "All their hopes go down the mine". The Australian Women's Weekly. 25, (8). Australia, Australia. 7 August 1957. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  2. Review of play at Variety
  3. "London's West End Season". Variety. 7 August 1957. p. 61.
  4. "Playwrights Succeed in London". The Age. 15 July 1957. p. 10.
  5. "Commercial Radio Flays". ABC Weekly. Vol. 20 no. 15. 9 April 1958. p. 14.
  6. Listen James at Bristol Uni
  7. Listen James at IMDB
  8. "TV Guide". The Age. 2 November 1960. p. 5.
  9. "Clues Hidden in "Whodunnit" Dialogue". The Age. 27 October 1960. p. 31.
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