# The Shifting Heart > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Shifting_Heart > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Shifting_Heart.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shifting_Heart > Source revision: 1355138786 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1957 play by Richard Beynon and 1962 Australian film The Shifting Heart Written by Richard Beynon Setting Christmas Eve 1956, Collingwood, Melbourne ***The Shifting Heart*** is a play written in 1957[1] in Australia by [Richard Beynon](/source/Richard_Beynon_(writer)), it is an insight to the [psychology](/source/Psychology) of racism and its victims. In the background of 1950s [Collingwood](/source/Collingwood%2C_Victoria), [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne). It has been called "the second most famous Australian play of the 1950s."[2] ## Characters - Momma Bianchi - Poppa Bianchi - Gino Bianchi - Maria Bianchi (Fowler) - Clarry Fowler - Leila Pratt - Donny Pratt - Detective-Sergeant Lukie ## Setting *The Shifting Heart* is set in 1956, [Collingwood, Melbourne](/source/Collingwood%2C_Victoria) on Christmas Eve. At the time, Collingwood was a poor suburb populated by lower class Australian families and Italian immigrants. The play published in 1960 by [Angus & Robertson](/source/Angus_%26_Robertson) begins with two pages of stage direction. It describes the home of Italians Mr. & Mrs. Vicenzo Bianchi, the stage is their backyard. On stage left there is a large [garbage can](/source/Garbage_can) that is overfilled, the overflow is in a small household bucket. On each side of the stage is the wall of the neighbours. On stage left is the wall between the Pratt family, Leila and Donny. The wall is a fence that relaxes in the wind and shows an air of [dilapidation](/source/Dilapidation). The boards are able to be pushed apart enough to let the Pratts enter the Bianchis' backyard. On stage right there is a wall described as a formidable barrier, complete with a length of [barbed wire](/source/Barbed_wire) across the top. It is low enough for the woman living there to toss garbage over. In the first pages of dialog and notes in the stage direction, it is clear that there is a "war" going on between the family living stage right against the Bianchis because they are Italian. The Pratt family is on the side of the Bianchi family. ## Productions The play came third in a play writing competition held by [London's *Observer* newspaper](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Observer_Plays&action=edit&redlink=1). *The Shifting Heart* premiered at the [Elizabethan Theatre](/source/Elizabethan_Theatre%2C_Sydney) in Sydney in October 1957, presented by the [Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust](/source/Australian_Elizabethan_Theatre_Trust). It toured nationally for a year, including seasons at the [Comedy Theatre](/source/Comedy_Theatre%2C_Melbourne) in Melbourne and [Her Majesty’s Theatre](/source/Her_Majesty's_Theatre%2C_Brisbane) in Brisbane.[3] The play debuted in England in 1959 where it played a West End season at the [Duke of York's Theatre](/source/Duke_of_York's_Theatre).[4][5] The ABC made a radio version of the play in 1962. It was adapted for Australian television on the ABC in 1968.[6] Notable revivals include those of Melbourne's [Union Theatre Repertory Company](/source/Union_Theatre_Repertory_Company) in 1962, Sydney's [Marian Street Theatre](/source/Marian_Street_Theatre) in 1981, Sydney's [Phillip Street Theatre](/source/Phillip_Street_Theatre) in 1984, and the [State Theatre Company of South Australia](/source/State_Theatre_Company_of_South_Australia) in 1996. ## 1962 TV adaptation The play was filmed by British TV in 1962.[7][8] It screened for the *[General Motors Hour](/source/General_Motors_Hour)* in Australia on 1 September 1962.[9] ### Cast - [June Brunell](/source/June_Brunell) as Maria - [Lewis Flander](/source/Lewis_Fiander) as Gino Bianchi - John Lee as Det.-Sgt Lukie - [Reg Lye](/source/Reg_Lye) as Donny Pratt - [Keith Michell](/source/Keith_Michell) as Clarry - Victor Platt as Poppa Bianchi - [Madge Ryan](/source/Madge_Ryan) as Leila Pratt - Gillian Webb as Momma Bianchi ## 1968 TV adaptation The play was filmed for TV in 1968[10] and aired on 21 August 1968 (Melbourne)[11] as part of *[Wednesday Theatre](/source/Wednesday_Theatre)*. It starred Anne Charleston and Tom Oliver, who later worked together on the TV series *[Neighbours](/source/Neighbours)*. Madge Ryan appeared in the premiere season of the play as Leila.[12] ### Cast - [Madge Ryan](/source/Madge_Ryan) as Momma - Alan Bickford as Gino - [Tom Oliver](/source/Tom_Oliver) as Clarrie - [Anne Charleston](/source/Anne_Charleston) as Maria - [Syd Conabere](/source/Syd_Conabere) as Poppa - Penny Shelton as Leila - [Terry Norris](/source/Terry_Norris_(actor)) as Donny - Blair Edgar as Lukie - Berys Marsh ### Reception The *Age* said "the entirety works despite some stray accents."[13] *Filmink* argued "the play is ideal for television because it mostly takes place in a cramped, working class house. It’s a faithful adaptation, and is mostly shot like a stage play, with a few location scenes thrown in" adding "The big stumbling block of the TV version... was the fact that all the Italian roles are played by non-Italian actors who use broad accents for their parts."[2] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Milne, Geoffrey (2004). *Theatre Australia (Un)limited*. Rodopi. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-shifting_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-shifting_2-1) Vagg, Stephen (7 June 2021). ["Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Shifting Heart"](https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-tv-plays-the-shifting-heart/). *Filmink*. Retrieved 9 August 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["AusStage – The Shifting Heart"](https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/work/1348). *www.ausstage.edu.au*. Retrieved 15 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Enthusiastic U.K. Reception For Australian Play"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103127915). *[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times)*. 12 August 1959. p. 19. Retrieved 24 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [""Shifting Heart" Well Received"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103131252). *[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times)*. Vol. 34, no. 9, 396. 16 September 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 4 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Richard Beynon's prize-winning play 'The Shifting Heart' will be telecast on ABC-3 at 8 o'clock tonight. Virginia Gerrett interviewed the author in London recently. The 'Z-Cars' controller"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107066391). *[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times)*. 7 August 1968. p. 12. Retrieved 24 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["CTVA UK - "ITV Play of the Week" (ITV) Season 8 (1962-63)"](http://ctva.biz/UK/ITV/ITV_PlayOfTheWeek_08_(1962-63).htm). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [1962 TV adaptation](http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/8110109) at [AustLit](/source/AustLit) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Television for 1962"](http://www.hrc.org.au/files/People/1962/May%201962029%20OPT.pdf) (PDF). *GMH People*. May 1962. p. 7. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "TV Guide", *Sydney Morning Herald*, p. 31, 5 August 1968 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Madge Ryan as Momma"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/122307082/?terms=%22shifting%20heart%22&match=1). *The Age*. 15 August 1968. p. 23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Madge Ryan in TV' Shifting Heart"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/122309538/?terms=%22shifting%20heart%22&match=1). *The Age*. 27 June 1968. p. 25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["This Must Give ABC New Heart"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/122308395/?terms=%22shifting%20heart%22&match=1). *The Age*. 21 August 1968. p. 6. ## External links - [Australian productions](https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/work/1348) at [AusStage](/source/AusStage) - [*The Shifting Heart*](https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C244588) at [AustLit](/source/AustLit) (subscription required) - [1968 TV production](https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/8110365) at [AustLit](/source/AustLit) - [Original theatre program](https://www.thetrust.org.au/pdf/trust-activities/TA_shifting-heart-the.pdf) at The Trust v t e TV productions of Oscar Whitbread TV plays On Approval (1964) Corruption in the Palace of Justice (1964) The Winds of Green Monday (1965) Otherwise Engaged (1965) Duet on Wednesday (1965) Photo Finish (1965) Plain Jane (1966) A Phoenix Too Frequent (1966) The Decision (1966) Course for Collision (1967) Slow Poison (1967) Romeo and Juliet (1967) Salome (1968) The Shifting Heart (1968) The Torrents (1969) I'm Damned if I Know (1972) The Man Who Shot the Albatross (1972) The Professional Touch (1976) Trial of Ned Kelly (1977) Burn the Butterflies (1979) A Wild Ass of a Man (1980) The Balanced Particle Freeway (1997) TV series Australian Plays (1969) Delta (Australian TV series) (1969) Dynasty (1969) Bellbird (1970–77) A Family at War (1970) Frank and Francesca (1973) And the Big Men Fly (1974) Rush (1975) Catspaw (1978) The Truckies (1978) I Can Jump Puddles (1980) Locusts and Wild Honey (1980) The Flying Doctors (1986) Studio 86 (1986) Acropolis Now (1989) The Power, The Passion (1989) Cluedo (1990–92) Bush Patrol (1996) Miniseries Marion (1974) Power Without Glory (1976) Lucinda Brayford (1980) All the Green Year (1981) Outbreak of Love (1981) The Young Wife (1984) Golden Pennies (1985) The Flying Doctors (1985) Ratbag Hero (1991) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Shifting Heart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shifting_Heart) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shifting_Heart?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.