CHARISMA

Rehearsals: 5^th – 8^th November 1974 at St Paul’s Church Hall, Sussex Place, London W6

9:30 – 1:30pm

Walk-Through: 10^th November at Yorkshire Television Centre, Leeds

Recorded: 10^th November 1974 at Yorkshire Television Centre, Studio 4, Leeds

Broadcast: Friday 8:30pm 27^th December 1974

CAST

Rupert Rigsby – Leonard Rossiter

Alan Moore – Richard Beckinsale

Ruth Jones – Frances de la Tour

Philip Smith – Don Warrington

Maureen – Liz Edmiston

CREW

Creator/Writer Eric Chappell

Producer/Director Ronnie Baxter

Designer Colin Pigott

Music Dennis Wilson

Casting James Ligatt

Floor Manager Mike Purcell

Stage Manager Terry Knowles

Production Asst Mary Byrne

Lighting Peter Squires

Cameras Gerry Lord

Sound Ian Hughes

Vision Mixer Kay Harrington

Tech Supervisor Gordon Quin

Wardrobe Brenda Fox

Make-up Diana Caplin

Prop Buyer Rod Saul

Call Boy John Heaton

Warm-up Felix Bowness

Episode Review

With landlord Rigsby, it’s one long bed-sitter battle in….RISING DAMP

Rigsby, the self-styled aristocrat of the flat-letting fraternity who runs the tattiest run-down rooming house in bed-sit land is back in….

For all his faults – and he has plenty – Rigsby cannot be said to give up easily. He just can’t seem to get it through his thick skull that his amorous feelings towards Ruth are not reciprocated. But love is blind as they say, and once more Rigsby’s off a wooing his female tenant.

Student lodgers Alan and Philip are happy to give him advice and a little practical help. Says Alan: “What you need is a little charisma….personal charm….appeal”, and gives him some tablets to calm his nerves. Declares Philip: “In my country, if a man was in your position, he’d get the wood of the ‘Love Tree’ He would burn it outside the girls hut and when she smells the smoke she would appear at the door”.

But Rigsby soon finds out that the wrong tables can turn the tables, and the wrong incense is likely to make one incensed….

Did you know?

• “Charisma” was the first episode to feature the regular opening title sequence. This included a  close up of the words “RISING DAMP”, these were superimposed over the varnished wooden door. As the first few bars of Dennis Wilson’s began, the camera pulled away to reveal a full door set into brick walls, complete with doorstep and flaking paint. The credits were superimposed over the bottom of the door.
• An excerpt from The Very Best of Matt Monro LP, 1974, was heard on two occasions. First played at 16rpm and then at the correct 33rpm.
• A racing bike was hired for this episode, owned by Maureen.
• A bag of Sweets doubled for tranquilizers swallowed by Leonard.
• The end credits were superimposed over the “RISING DAMP” caption slide.

Interesting to note:

Production# 2753

Although this episode was the fourth to be broadcast, “CHARISMA” was in fact the third episode to be recorded, having been switched with “A NIGHT OUT”.

Fridays at 8.30pm, opposite the1961 feature film, El Cid.

‘Charisma’ – was not in Top 20 viewing figures

Dressing Rooms:-

Leonard Rossiter #12

Richard Beckinsale #11

Frances de la Tour #6

Don Warrington #8

Liz Edmiston #10