Difference between revisions of "Photo Finish"
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''[[Photo Finish]]'' is a play by Peter Ustinov | ''[[Photo Finish]]'' is a play by Peter Ustinov | ||
| − | Subtitled “An Adventure in Biography.” | + | Subtitled “An Adventure in Biography it tells of Sam, who, at the age of 80, is the victim of a shrewish wife, Stella, who he has quarreled with for 60 years. One night he receives a strange visitor, an immaculately dressed man of 60, who opens a drawer to which only Sam has the key and withdraws a valuable necklace, which Sam gave to a lady of easy virtue (but expensive access) 20 years earlier. No sooner do Sam and the mysterious stranger discover that they are the same man, than another interloper appears, Sam at 40, followed by Sam at 20. Valiantly the octogenarian tries to keep the others from making the mistakes he has made, but his efforts are futile. Each Sam proceeds to make the identical missteps; marrying Stella at 20, not leaving her at 40, becoming hopelessly infatuated with another woman at 60. To join this foursome comes their father, an irascible Victorian with a lecherous leaning toward a secretary who looks suspiciously like the lady of the necklace. In the end there is still another Sam, a newborn babe whom Old Sam holds for an instant, then hastily rejects.” |
<big>'''TO BE EDITED'''</big> | <big>'''TO BE EDITED'''</big> | ||
Revision as of 15:03, 28 September 2026
Photo Finish is a play by Peter Ustinov
Subtitled “An Adventure in Biography it tells of Sam, who, at the age of 80, is the victim of a shrewish wife, Stella, who he has quarreled with for 60 years. One night he receives a strange visitor, an immaculately dressed man of 60, who opens a drawer to which only Sam has the key and withdraws a valuable necklace, which Sam gave to a lady of easy virtue (but expensive access) 20 years earlier. No sooner do Sam and the mysterious stranger discover that they are the same man, than another interloper appears, Sam at 40, followed by Sam at 20. Valiantly the octogenarian tries to keep the others from making the mistakes he has made, but his efforts are futile. Each Sam proceeds to make the identical missteps; marrying Stella at 20, not leaving her at 40, becoming hopelessly infatuated with another woman at 60. To join this foursome comes their father, an irascible Victorian with a lecherous leaning toward a secretary who looks suspiciously like the lady of the necklace. In the end there is still another Sam, a newborn babe whom Old Sam holds for an instant, then hastily rejects.”
TO BE EDITED
Translated into German as Endspurt ("Final Sprint")
Made into an English TV movie in 1965
1996: The German version performed in Cape Town by Das Kleine Theater am Kap.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4121814/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_2_accord_1_cdt_c_23
https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/99654/photo-finish
The KTK website (last updated in 2000, now defunct) http://www.ktk.co.za/default.htm
Go to ESAT Bibliography
