Author sued for plagiarism

Press, 29 January 1982, Page 6

Author sued for plagiarism

NZPA London One of Britain’s bestknown playwrights, William Douglas-Home, has been accused in the High Court of plagiarism. An author and stage director, Basil Ashmore, accused the 69-year-old DouglasHome of stealing his idea for a hit play titled “The Kingfisher.”

Douglas-Home, brother of the former British Prime Minister, has written a succession of stage successes including “The Chiitem Hundreds,” “The Reluctant Debutante,” “The Secretary Bird” — and, in 1977, “The Kingfisher.”

His play “Lloyd George Knew My Father” screened on New Zealand television last Tuesday evening. Ashmore is asking Judge Mervyn Davies, Q.C., to award him damages for infringement of copyright and

breach of confidence, the “Standard” has reported. He also wants an injunction to stop the alleged breaches continuing. But Douglas-Home is fighting the claim. He denies breach of copyright and is counterclaiming damages for libel over a letter sent by Ashmore alleging that he had used his work unlawfully. Anthony Hoolahan, Q.C., for Ashmore, said he was a man who was interested in researching old and little known plays. One such play was a Victorian melodrama called “The Constant Lover," by St John Hankin. It told the story of young lovers meeting under a beech tree, and of a young man constantly in love but not always with the same person. ’ “

Ashmore wanted to develop the theme and wrote to Sir ' Max Beerbdhm, who

wrote the second act called “The Social Success” about a young man who cheated at cards with the object of escaping from the social success he had achieved. The third act he found in a play by a German author, Frank Wedekind, about a successful singer with many female admirers. He wanted a final scene and wrote to Mr DouglasHome, who said he was interested, said Mr Hoolahan. The whole play was to be called “The Cuckoo’s Progress.” The fourth scene was with the young couple from the first act, now in old age. Douglas-Home was interested and Ashmore sent him the first three acts, which he had adapted himself. They collaborated on the fo.urth scene until about 1967, but Ashmore wanted a z strong final speech and was going to get in touch with

another author. The play was left incomplete. Some years later, in 1977, he read a review of DouglasHome’s “The Kingfisher,” which was performed at the Lyric Theatre with Sir Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson in starring roles. “When he read the review, he said to .himself ‘that’s the Cuckoo’s Progress,’ ” said Mr Hoolahan. He contacted DouglasHome, whose reply was: “Nonsense.” He seeks damages from Douglas-Home, from the Lyric Theatrical Company, Ltd, from Thomas Gale, who was the owner and proprietor of the Lyric, and from Lisden Productions, Ltd, the theatrical production company, performing the play. The case is expected to last 10 days, the “Standard” said.