Son of Man (play)

Son of Man is a television play by British playwright Dennis Potter which was first broadcast on BBC1 on 16 April 1969, in The Wednesday Play slot.^[1] An alternative depiction of the last days of Jesus, Son of Man was directed by Gareth Davies and starred Irish actor Colin Blakely.

The treatment of the subject matter led to Potter being accused of blasphemy by Christian morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse. Jesus was depicted as being tormented by self-doubt, repeatedly crying out "Is it me?" as he struggles with his own nature as God incarnate whilst being vulnerable to human frailty.^[2] Potter's work focuses on Jesus's message of universal love, but eschews any mention of miracles or the resurrection. The character of Judas Iscariot is identified with the rich young man of the synoptic gospels. The play was shot on videotape over three days on a very limited budget: Potter was later to say that the set "looks as though it's trembling and about to fall down."^[3]

It was also adapted for the stage and played at the Roundhouse, London, with Frank Finlay in the leading role. The stage version of Son of Man was first produced on 22 October 1969, at the Phoenix Theatre, Leicester. ^[4]

Cast TV version

Phoenix Theatre staging

Frank Finlay as Jesus
Joseph O'Conor as Pontius Pilate
Ian Mullins as Caiaphas
David Daker as Peter
David Henry as the Roman Commander
Linda Polan as Procla
Stanley Lebor as Andrew

References

↑ Radio Times looks at 14 years of distinguished contributions to BBCtv Drama, Radio Times, 27 January – 2 February 1979.
↑ Marc Lee (8 March 2008). "Son of Man: Testaments to the power of Christ's story". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
↑ "BFI Screenonline: Son of Man (1969)". Screenonline.org.uk. 1969-04-16. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
↑ "Son of Man A Play (1970) ISBN 057316004X". 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
↑ ""The Wednesday Play" Son of Man (TV Episode 1969) - IMDb". imdb.com. Retrieved 2014-08-30.

Works by Dennis Potter

Bibliography

Television plays	Stand Up, Nigel Barton (1965) Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton (1965) Emergency – Ward 9 (1966) Shaggy Dog (1968) A Beast with Two Backs (1968) Moonlight on the Highway (1969) Son of Man (1969) Traitor (1971) Follow the Yellow Brick Road (1972) Joe's Ark (1974) Double Dare (1976) Where Adam Stood (1976) Blue Remembered Hills (1979) Blade on the Feather (1980) Rain on the Roof (1980) Cream in My Coffee (1980) Brimstone and Treacle (1987)

Television serials	Casanova (1971) Pennies From Heaven (1978) Tender Is the Night (1985) The Singing Detective (1986) Christabel (1988) Blackeyes (1989) Lipstick on Your Collar (1993) Karaoke (1996) Cold Lazarus (1996)

Films	Pennies from Heaven (1981) Brimstone and Treacle (1982) Gorky Park (1983) Dreamchild (1985) Track 29 (1988) Secret Friends (1991) Mesmer (1993) The Singing Detective (2003)

Novels	Hide and Seek (1973) Pennies from Heaven (1981) Ticket to Ride (1986) Blackeyes (1987)

The Wednesday Play series

Fable (1965)
Up the Junction (1965)
The End of Arthur's Marriage (1965)
Stand Up, Nigel Barton (1965)
Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton (1965)
Cathy Come Home (1966)
Pity About the Abbey ([repeat] 1966)
In Two Minds (1967)
A Beast With Two Backs (1968)
Spoiled (1968)
The Big Flame (1969)
Son of Man (1969)
No Trams to Lime Street (1970)
The Year of the Sex Olympics ([repeat] 1970)
The War Game (1985, completed 1965)

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