After Arthur was a non-starter for Granada in 1969, it was now the BBC's turn to
offer Ray Davies the chance to make a play for TV, and this time they would succeed
where Granada hadn't. It wouldn't be a musical per se, but it would feature as its
core an attempt by Pete (Ray Davies) to break the world record for continuous piano
playing. This wouldn't be a Guinness World Record attempt in a renown hall or even
scrutinised by official record keepers, but an ill-observed affair in a shabby community
hall, with constant interruptions by off-putting yobs, an exploitative manager and
a concerned wife. The manager role probably appealed to Davies as his sarcastic ode
to pop fame "Top Of The Pops" on the Lola album features a similar, if culturally
stereotyped character. The play is similar in tone to Sidney Lumet's 1970 movie They
Shoot Horses Don't They?, in which young couples attempt a dance marathon in depression-era
America.
Author Alan Sharp's first version at the play was broadcast 17th August 1962 on BBC
radio's Third Programme, and repeated by the re-named Radio Three on 2nd September
1970, a few weeks' before the TV treatment was aired.
Broadcast on a Thursday evening from 9.20 - 10.40 pm this would be the first in a
new series for the BBC, Play For Today, replacing the previous Wednesday Play, and
despite some problems with a previous director the legendary Philip Savile was brought
in to take over the reins. The BBC boosted the play's chances by giving it the full
colour front cover of that week's Radio Times. The inclusion of a pop star doubtless
drew more attention to the play that it would probably have got without it. Despite
Davies playing piano throughout the Radio Times gives credit to both Ray Davies and
Fiachra Trench for piano playing.
Ray Davies performs two new songs in the play, Marathon and Got To Be Free, with
a version of the latter appearing on the Lola Versus The Powerman album, while both
songs would turn up on the 50th anniversary box set edition.
Daily Mirror 15th October 1970
A Kink plays it straight. RAY DAVIES, leading member of The Kinks pop group; makes
his acting debut tonight in the "Play for Today" production "The Long Distance Piano
Player" (BBC-1, 9.20). This Is a new series which takes over from the BBC's "Wednesday
Play " and is designed to provide a showcase for new and experimental drama, writes
KEN IRWIN. Davies plays the title role, pianist who is determined to set up a world
record for non-stop playing. The forces of good and evil, in the form of his wife
(played by Lois Daine) and his manager (Norman Rossington) fight over him as he undergoes
his musical ordeal. Davies has composed and performed two songs specially for the
play one called "Marathon" and the other "Got to be Free."
The critics were divided on Davies's acting skills, with some suggesting that he
had under-played the role, but since the character had been awake for days in his
quest, then maybe Davies had over compensated (a bit).
The play was repeated on 13th April 1972, albeit with ten minutes lopped off, and
it is that edit that survives as a black and white film print. It hasn't been repeated
on UK TV since then but has been shown at the BFI in London.
