Play For Today - The Long Distance Piano Player 10/10

A dingy municipal hall in a nondescript northern town plays host to Pete (Ray Davies) a phenomenon, a true one-off of Herculean proportions - at least, according to his loudmouth, cod-American manager Jack Burnshaw (Norman Rossington). Over the next few days, as Jack barks at nonplussed townsfolk through a megaphone while his gofer Alf (James 'Red Shift' Hazeldine) bangs resignedly on a drum, Pete will be attempting to break the record for non-stop piano playing. Why, apart from the 'uniqueness' of the achievement, no-one can be quite sure, least of all Pete's long-suffering wife Ruth (Lois Daine) holed up in a makeshift bedroom for the duration, within earshot of the relentless drone of Pete's playing. Locals seem none to bothered either - two old duffers dusting down the snooker tables in the hall chat idly about him because - well, he's being talked about, apparently.
Info from TV Cream.

Once you've watched it, could you give a rating out of five, just as a test.
My Rating - 4/5

Starring Ray Davies.

C. BBC Television 1970.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Play
• For
• Today
• The
• Long
• Distance
• Piano
• Player
• Kinks
• Ray
• Davies
• BBC
• Television
• TV
• Drama
• 1970
• 70's
• 1970's

[demaios]

I think I've waited my whole life to see Ray in this play. Thank you so much for posting. God Save the Kinks and Youtube.

[pierstheoneandonly]

Thanks for uploading. Some human themes gently explored here which in comparison to contemporary BBC output would make this an exceptional piece. In the context of the consistently superlative PFT series though, 2 out of 5.

[cookmoore]

Yes, thank you!

[bldali]

Thank you! This was excellent!!!

[StonefieldJim4]

I'd like to see a robust defence of it. To my mind, it's a truly execrable play.

[Babyhowdy233]

Well, StonefieldJim4 is certainly entitled to his opinion, but I and MANY OTHERS want to thank you for uploading this ultra rare episode!! I'd wanted to watch this for AGES and never thought I'd ever get the chance!

[StonefieldJim4]

And the BAFTA goes to... the fox. Christ, I thought it'd never end! No offence, 'PlayNedoflanderToday' - I mean, thanks for uploading it, but thank heavens Saville went on to direct better things (not least, the excellent 'Fellow Traveller', which, when I can transfer it to DVD, I might upload here).