Nationhood on Stage : Reassessing the Australian Theatrical Repertoire single work   review  
Issue Details: First known date: 2022... 2022 Nationhood on Stage : Reassessing the Australian Theatrical Repertoire
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

For at least the first half of the twentieth century, Australian playwrights were not held in high regard by their compatriots. Popular opinion was summed up by fictional theatre manager M.J. Field in Frank A. Russell’s novel The Ashes of Achievement (1920):

‘I’ve got a play,’ commenced Philip, plunging.
Field jumped from his chair, hands spread out in defence.
‘Help!’ he yelped. ‘Anything but that. Not a bloody play, I ask you.’
‘What are you frightened of?’ he asked, when Field had resumed his seat.
‘I’ll tell you, Lee, on the understanding it goes no further. Australians can’t write plays; there you have it in a nutshell.’ (Introduction)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

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    y separately published work icon Australian Book Review no. 443 June 2022 24657601 2022 periodical issue

    'That there will no second term for the Morrison government will mean for many a winter of milder discontent. The subject of changing course looms large over our June issue, from John Harwood’s reconsideration of his mother Gwen Harwood’s legacy (making possible a new biography of the poet, also reviewed in this issue) to Linda Atkins’ refocusing of attention to wider social problems in the abortion debate. Elizabeth Tynan gives a timely reminder of the historic costs of colonial servility, while Ilana Snyder looks at the unrealised potential of the Gonski education reforms. In fiction, we review new titles by Douglas Stuart, Steve Toltz, Felicity McLean, and Ceridwen Dovey and Eliza Bell, while in poetry, we look at the latest by Sarah Holland-Batt, Emily Stewart, and Claire Potter. The inimitable Frances Wilson is our Critic of the Month. From convicts to caca (ahem), there’s plenty in store for the polymorphously curious!'  (Publication summary)

         2022     pg. 58-59
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Last amended 7 Jun 2022 09:10:07
58-59 https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/archive/2022/june-2022-no-443/978-june-2022-no-443/9215-andrew-fuhrmann-reviews-australia-in-50-plays-by-julian-meyrick Nationhood on Stage : Reassessing the Australian Theatrical Repertoiresmall AustLit logo Australian Book Review
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