This odd three-part “comedy of manners” from the ABC was set in Melbourne in 1913 and told the story of Diana Von Flugel (Rowena Wallace), a beautiful high society woman whose tearaway musician husband Wolfie (Lawrence Held) treats her fortune as his own and has gradually whittled most of it away – much of it in the ample bosom of his unlikely mistress Mrs Montaubyn (Val Lehman), who affectionately renames him “Dingo”.
Wolfie, we’re told, has “genius but not talent” and produces pleasant plink-a-plonk compositions.
The Von Flugels are considered bohemian by “the enemy”, the starchier elements of Diana’s family. But to help launch Wolfie’s new prelude, Diana’s cousin arranges a soiree, a huge success in which we’re introduced to such odd characters as the witty bachelor uncle, Arthur Langton (Frank Thring) and the vixenish beauty Marcia Rockingham (Ilona Rodgers).
When Diana renews a friendship with her old friend Russell Lockwood (a barely recognisable Tony Bonner), she must resolve a conflict of loyalties between the foppish blonde charmer and her family.
Anthea (Sigrid Thornton) and Cynthia (Susannah Fowle) Langton are delightfully mischievous twin sisters.
The series was adapted from a novel by Martin Boyd courtesy of a sometimes overly-wordy script by Howard Griffiths.
Diana Von Flugel
Rowena Wallace Russell Lockwood
Tony Bonner Anthea Langton
Sigrid Thornton Cynthia Langton
Susannah Fowle Wolfie Von Flugel
Lawrence Held Freddie Thorpe
Brendon Lunney Josie Von Flugel
Jackie Woodburne Captain John Wickham
Lewis Fitz-Gerald Arthur Langton
Frank Thring Mrs Montaubyn
Val Lehman Miss Marcia Rockingham
Ilona Rodgers Guy
John Higginson
Episodes
Spring Returning | Summer Ripeness | Season’s End
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