Five White Fingers Explained

Five White Fingers
Format:	drama play
Runtime:	60 mins^[1]
Start Time:	8pm
End Time:	9pm
Country:	Australia
Language:	English
First Aired:	^[2]

Five White Fingers is a 1939 Australian radio play by Max Afford. Described as a "macarbe comedy" it was one of his most popular early works.^[3]

The play was produced again in 1945 directed by Frank Harvey and in 1947.^[4]

Premise

According to Wireless Weekly:

“We can’t stop Ada laughing,” said Mrs. Plackett’s sister, Alice, and this was the final strange happening of the two crowded days that followed the coming of the Five White Fingers to the Plackett household. The wealthy widow found this curious relic in a small antique shop, and although her friend, Henry Merriott, swore it was genuine, her agent was frankly sceptical. The mischief worked by these restless fingers forms the basis for this comedy... but is it a comedy or has Ada’s laughter a macabre sound? Twist and countertwist are presented in this intriguing play that ranges from broad satire to sheer horror.

Notes and References

News: On National Radio To-Night . . 9176 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 June 1939 . 1 November 2023 . 16 (Late Final Extra) . National Library of Australia.
News: Radio Programme Points . . 1501 . Victoria, Australia . 24 May 1939 . 1 November 2023 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
News: Write-Tough--But Aren't . . New South Wales, Australia . 25 January 1940 . 1 November 2023 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
News: National Radio . . 14,000 . Queensland, Australia . 16 January 1947 . 1 November 2023 . 6 . National Library of Australia.