Churchill Theatre, Bromley, Kent in association with the Yvonne Arnaud Theater, Guilford
Scans available thanks to Kitty and the aFirthionado archive.
Please do not redistribute.
George Bernard Shaw - PlayPeter Coe - Director
Terry Parsons - Set
John Bartlett - Costumes
Spike Gaden - Lightning
In July 1984, Colin Firth appeared in The Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Kent, playing Louis Dubedat in "The Doctor's Dilemma" by George Bernard Shaw. Later, the production moved to Guildford (south of London)
Summary:
The story opens on the day that Ridgeon, a prominent research doctor, is knighted. His friends gather to congratulate him. The friends include Sir Patrick, a distinguished old physician; Walpole, an aggressive surgeon; Sir Ralph Bloomfield Bonington, a charismatic society doctor; and Blenkinsop, a threadbare but honest government doctor. Each one has his favorite theory of illness and method of cure. These are incompatible--one man's cure is another man's poison. Nonetheless, they all get along.A young woman (Mrs. Dubechat) desperately seeks help for her husband from Ridgeon, who has evidently found a way to cure consumption by "stimulating the phagocytes." Ridgeon initially refuses, but changes his mind for two reasons--Dubechat is a fine artist and Ridgeon is smitten with his wife.
When the doctors meet Dubechat, however, they find that he is a dishonest scoundrel. Ridgeon eventually decides to treat Blenkinsop (who also has consumption) and refer the artist to Bloomfield Bonington, this insuring that he will die. In the end Ridgeon justifies his behavior as a plan to let Dubechat die before his wife find out what an amoral cad he actually was. This, in fact, happens and Dubechat's artistic reputation soars.
Colin Firth´s credits in the theatre program:
...... Appeared as Tommy Judd in the film of the play (Another Country) recently released. …just finished filming 1919…Last year he appeared in two episodes of Crown Court for Granada television.....
Cast:
Colin Firth - Louis Dubedat
Patrick Cargill
Gayle Hunnicutt
Tom Baker
Michael Craig
Emilyn Williams
John Heal
Tony Jay
Michael Logan
Larry Noble
