| Series: | Wednesday Theatre |
| Season: | 2 |
| Episode: | 18 |
| Director: | Patrick Barton |
| Teleplay: | Marc Brendel |
| Prev: | The Sound of Murder |
"Ashes to Ashes" is a 1966 Australian comedy thriller[1] television play which screened as part of Wednesday Theatre[2] on 27 April 1966 in Melbourne,[3] on 4 May 1966 in Sydney,[4] and on 11 May 1966 in Brisbane.[5]
Paris Beaumont has a whirlwind romance with Barbara Manson, marries her, and takes her to his house in Port Campbell. When Barbara finds a case containing women's clothing she starts asking questions about his first wife's disappearance.[6]
The play starred Ray Taylor, best known for being a TV presenter. His variety program The Ray Taylor Show had been cancelled just before production of Ashes to Ashes.[7] Taylor had some experience acting in repertory in England; he described the play as "a fun sort of thing".[8]
Taylor said "it's a darn good play and I wouldn't mind doing some more but my time is taken up writing a play of my own."[5]
It was based on an English play but set in Australia. Location filming took place at Port Campbell and Como House, South Yarra.[3] Taylor said "it's kinky, switched on or whatever you like to call it in The Avengers style."[9]
The script had a character referring to amounts over £1 as "quids" and those under as "cents". The Sydney Morning Herald asked light-heartedly if this was having "two bob each way".[10]
The Age said "The ABC should take a bow" claiming Taylor gave "an excellent performance slightly reminiscent of the urbane George Sanders... The suspense is well contrived and sustained."[11]
The Sydney Morning Herald said Taylor "played out his own macabre sense of humour" in the play adding "he showed a magnetic side of his personality, but it would be interesting to see him playing a part further removed from his own self to assess Taylor the actor."[12]