Tales from the Lazy Acre

1 9 7 2 (UK)
7 x 30 minute episodes

This late-night series of tales from BBC1 aired on Monday nights between 10 April and 29 May 1972.

The “Lazy Acre” was a quiet area by the Grand Union Canal in Dublin where sat Dead Man (David Kelly). Over a drink, he told various stories which were acted out by Milo O’Shea, playing a different character each time.

O’Shea’s characterisations included a short-sighted pick-pocket who tried to move into the big time in order to win his girlfriend’s hand in marriage (‘The Pick-Pocketer’); a civil servant with 12 daughters who believed enough was enough (‘The Bitter Pill’); an alcoholic grocer whose friends, family and customers cured him with shock treatment only to find they liked him better when he was drunk (‘Stone Cold Sober’); a shy, henpecked barber who sold his soul to a Satanic gentleman in exchange for victory in a pint drinking contest in order to win the favours of the blonde and brassy barmaid, Mrs Gaynor, played by Yootha Joyce (‘The Last Great Pint-drinking Tournament‘); an elderly judge (‘Judgement Day’) and a young Presbyterian minister who tries to convert a gypsy woman (‘The Travelling Woman’).

Unfortunately, the luck of the Irish was not present here and – despite terrific performances from O’Shea and Kelly – the series was a flop.

David Kelly passed away after a short illness on 12 February 2012, aged 82. Milo O’Shea died on 2 April 2013 in New York City. He was 86.

Stevie Fortune/Mossy Noonan/Matty Mooney/Charlie Mahood/Mr Rushe
Milo O’Shea
Dead Man
David Kelly