J. A. LEE’S “SHINER” MAY MAKE TV

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31985, 12 May 1969, Page 14

J. A. LEE’S “SHINER” MAY MAKE TV

"The Press" Special Senice AUCKLAND, May 8.

Mr John A. Lee, the author and former politician, is working on a pilot television script aimed at the Australian market and based on “Shiner”, a character in two of his books, “Shining with the Shiner” and “Shiner Slattery.” “Shiner,” a work-shy Irish swagger, who was based on an actual character, would not have gone shearing anywhere if he could have possibly avoided it. He firmly believed that work was a sin if he could get his food and drink without it.

“Shiner” would be happier shearing the farmer than the sheep, said Mr Lee. The man responsible for turning Mr Lee to television scriptwriting is Mr Lloyd Cunnington, who plays the part of the constable in the touring show “Fiddler on the Roof.”

He wants to play the part of “Shiner” whom he “discovered” in the books when

he arrived in New Zealand last month.

Mr Cunnington visited Mr Lee at his Auckland bookshop and asked him if he was interested in “Shiner” as a television series. Mr Lee said Mr Cunnington was living in hopes that he Could sell the idea of a series to a sponsor when he returned to Australia at the end of the tour.

Since the show would be produced for Australian television, the “Shiner” would probably become an Australian sundowner instead of a New Zealand swagman.

Mr Cunnington, who has acted in about 200 television shows, is at present appearing in Wellington. “I’m currently turning narrative into dialogue,” said Mr Lee. “I might tape the first script and send it down to Mr Cunnington.” He said a series would be based on the “Shiner” fact and legend as outlined in the two books and amplified by a little bit of light fantasy.