Comments on: What is this play?

Question: What is this play?

marsha56 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:56:52 -0800

Need help identifying a one-act play.

A couple dressed in Edwardian clothing is standing on a ship's deck on their honeymoon and are discussing their hopes and dreams for the future. At the end of the scene, they move away to go inside for dinner, and behind where they were standing, you see a life preserver stamped "TITANIC" and you realize with a shock that their lives are doomed.

I saw this as a child, mid 1960's. I think it was shown with one or two other one-act plays also, although I don't remember the others.

Hearing about Millvina Dean's death got me thinking about this.

Thanks guys!

By: Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:52:51 -0800

Was it Cavalcade by Noel Coward?

By: Night_owl

Night_owl — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:34:43 -0800

Looks like Thin Lizzy got it, based on this overview. Looks like what you saw was a one-act adaptation of the original three act play. Pretty common. Or you might have seen the entire play, but been confused because the play takes a look at three decades of the family's life.

By: marsha56

marsha56 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:36:23 -0800

I think you're both right. It was probably excerpted from Cavalcade.

Thanks so much!!!!

By: Hogshead

Hogshead — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:56:23 -0800

Something very similar appears as a short gag scene in the Terry Gilliam movie Time Bandits.