Rock Follies: The Little Ladies (ITV 2 Mar 1976, Denis Lill, Kathy Staff)

In The Little Ladies the Broadway Annie show has folded and the girls make the decision to continue with the rock group idea. Derek, who plans to write the songs and manage the girls too thinks he can score some development money from an old contact but is unsuccessful making it very hard for the girls to rehearse full time but a chance to perform for a local promoter could be just what the girls need.

Another fabulous episode, the girls are willing to do whatever it takes to get the band up and running. Q even resorts to making one last “suggestive movie” (which sees a guest appearance from the brilliant Denis Lill as an adult film maker), Dee gets the support of her housemates at the co-operative she is living in and even Anna’s mother turns up to see her perform (much to Anna’s dismay). There is a great scene at the end where the girls, after a great set, are having to listen to everyone telling them what changes they need to make which cuts into the dream sequence which saw the girls getting excited about being the greatest rock n roll band in the world, appearing on stage (supposedly to a global audience), dressed in Abba-esque costumes and singing Little Ladies.

Denis Lill was mistakenly billed as “Dennis” in the end credits.

classic quote
“She’s an absolute Voltaire with the paradox’s”

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 2 March 1976

WRITER: Howard Schuman | DIRECTOR: Brian Farnham

Series: Rock Follies Season Episode 2

cast
JULIE COVINGTON as Dee
RULA LENSKA as Q
CHARLOTTE CORNWELL as Anna
STEPHEN MOORE as Jack
BILLY MURRAY as Spike
EMLYN PRICE as Derek
MICHAEL J. SHANNON as Carl
DENIS LILL as Chas Speed
JOHN BRYANS as Al Fiegleman
BILL STEWART as Bob
ANGELA CHADFIELD as Joyce
JOSS BUCKLEY as Chris
ANGELA BRUCE as Gloria
KATHY STAFF as Waitress
VIVIENNE BURGESS as Mrs Wynd
ELLIS DALE as Schubert
CYRIL CROSS as Sam Sprat
BRIAN CHATTON, PETER JOHN VAN HOOKE, RAY RUSSELL, TONY STEVENS as The Group