The Ballad of Billy Rainbow
by Tony Ramsay
Tony Ramsay - The Ballad of Billy Rainbow
BBC Radio 4: The Saturday Play
Broadcast: Saturday 24th June 2000 @ 3:00 p.m.
Billy Rainbow is a cowardly 17th century actor on the London stage who has committed many indiscretions, the most recent being his
relationship with the local butcher's wife ... and daughter. After his most recent appearance on stage, he is approached by Richard Feroulle
who was so impressed with the way Billy tore the mask from the devil's face and ran him through with a single stroke, that he has a job for
him.
Because of his great acting ability, Richard asks Billy if he would be interested in playing the role of a doctor to perform an exocism at his
father's estate in Norfolk. The area has been plagued for some time past with an outbreak of witchcraft and Richard would like Billy purge
the contagion. At first, Billy is hesitant, but with the butcher looking for him, feels that this might be the right job to take.
Arriving in Norfolk, Billy meets up with Abigail, Richard's cousin, who sees through his disguise. She tells him that there are no witches but
there is someone who has gone to the trouble of terrifying the villagers half out of their wits, and she intends to find out why. It grieves her
that she would need Billy's assistance but since God has created her a woman, which in these times is equivalent to a doorpost, there is no
alternative.
With a great deal of help from Abigail, Billy sets out to solve the mystery in this comic detective story set in Elizabethan Norfolk.
With Michael Maloney [Billy Rainbow], Daniela Nardini [Miss Abigail Feroulle], Trevor Peacock [Sir Edmund Feroulle, Abigail's
Guardian], David Timson [Richard Feroulle, Sir Edmund's Son], Christopher Scott [Jocelyn Feroulle, Abigail's Cousin], Richenda Carey
[Mistress Rack-Iron, a Witchfinder], David Redgrave [Jolly, Blacksmith to Sir Edmund], Alison Pettitt [Molly, a Servant], Roger Walker
[Captain Madox of Spitalfields], and David Thorpe [Creed].
Other parts played by members of the cast.
The singer was David Timson
Directed by Janet Whitaker
60 minutes
Jim
