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clip 2Clip description
Father (Leonard Teale) is anxious about his important dinner party. He is trying to get Esther (Elizabeth Alexander) and the children organised but Judy (Jennifer Cluff) and Pip (Mark Clark) are late and get into trouble.
Curator’s notes
Narrated by Esther (Elizabeth Alexander), the children’s young stepmother, the scene opens with preparations in the kitchen for the important dinner party. Esther’s voice-over places the story from the child’s perspective with her description of the topsy turvy land of ‘Misrule’ where ‘…on this day all order and logical behaviour are thrown to the winds… Here anything could happen and usually did.’ It also shows that Esther is a sympathetic character and on the children’s side.
The children are effectively but economically introduced. Meg (Barbara Llewellyn) is responsible, sensible and obliging while the rebellious Judy (Jennifer Cluff), and Pip (Mark Clark) are tardy and scruffy. This sets up the potential for dramatic conflict with their rigid military father (Leonard Teale).
The clip is a great example of the elegant and stylish, almost cinematic camerawork of the series. The performances from the children are natural and charming. Overall, this is a great introduction to what was a landmark series for the ABC.
