A Cup Of Tea, A Bex and A Good Lie Down
Encyclopedia
A Cup Of Tea, A Bex and A Good Lie Down was a comedy
revue
that opened at Sydney's Phillip Street Theatre
in 1965. It was the longest running show at the Theatre in 1966. The cast included John Ewart
, Gloria Dawn
, Ruth Cracknell
and Reg Livermore
. Written by John Mckellar.
The play's subject matter was Bex, a strong compound analgesic
in the form of "A.P.C." or aspirin
-phenacetin
-caffeine
tablets or powder. Bex powders were the housewife’s drug of choice in the 1950s and 1960s until they were shown to be highly addictive and responsible for causing kidney disease when taken in large doses.
The expression 'A cup of tea, a Bex etc.' seems to have gained currency through much of Australia in the post WW2 period when aspirin became readily available. It was often used in the pejorative and abbreviated form 'go and take a Bex' to indicate to an over enthusiast person that they should take a more relaxed attitude to the subject being discussed, or to soothe a frazzled housewife. As such it had currency until very recently in bar room discussions, particularly where one person became animated in expressing a point of view that was contrary to the general view point of the group.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
that opened at Sydney's Phillip Street Theatre
Phillip Street Theatre
The Phillip Street Theatre was a popular and influential Sydney theatre and theatrical company of the 1950s and 1960s that became well known for its intimate satirical revue productions.-History:...
in 1965. It was the longest running show at the Theatre in 1966. The cast included John Ewart
John Ewart
John Ewart was an Australian Film Institute award winning actor.-Career:Ewart was born in Melbourne. He began his acting career when he was cast at the age of four in a radio production of Snow White...
, Gloria Dawn
Gloria Dawn
Gloria Dawn appeared in numerous soft-core men's magazines in the 1960s. She began her career in January 1962, and modeled for photographers Peter Gowland, Ron Vogel, Donald G. Klumpp, Sam Wu, Elmer Batters, and Michael LeRoy among others. She retired from modeling in August 1963 but her pictures...
, Ruth Cracknell
Ruth Cracknell
Ruth Cracknell AM was an Australian theatre and television character actress who appeared in many comedy roles. She was known variously as "Crackers", "Dame Crackers" and "Dame Ruth" throughout a career spanning 56 years....
and Reg Livermore
Reg Livermore
Reginald Dawson Livermore AO is an Australian actor, singer, theatrical performer and television presenter.-Childhood:From a young age, Livermore demonstrated an interest in the performing arts...
. Written by John Mckellar.
The play's subject matter was Bex, a strong compound analgesic
Compound analgesic
A compound analgesic is an analgesic with more than one active ingredient. This includes many of the stronger prescription analgesics.Common active ingredients used in compound analgesics include:* aspirin* paracetemol * codeine or oxycodone...
in the form of "A.P.C." or aspirin
Aspirin
Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
-phenacetin
Phenacetin
Phenacetin is an analgesic, once widely used; its use has declined because of its adverse effects.-History:Phenacetin was introduced in 1887, and was used principally as an analgesic, and was one of the first synthetic fever reducers to go on the market...
-caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
tablets or powder. Bex powders were the housewife’s drug of choice in the 1950s and 1960s until they were shown to be highly addictive and responsible for causing kidney disease when taken in large doses.
The expression 'A cup of tea, a Bex etc.' seems to have gained currency through much of Australia in the post WW2 period when aspirin became readily available. It was often used in the pejorative and abbreviated form 'go and take a Bex' to indicate to an over enthusiast person that they should take a more relaxed attitude to the subject being discussed, or to soothe a frazzled housewife. As such it had currency until very recently in bar room discussions, particularly where one person became animated in expressing a point of view that was contrary to the general view point of the group.