Cirrus@Austlit

'The fourth play, Pismoto (The Letter), which was written Dorothy Siouclis, deals with two generations of women: Anna who represents the culture of today, and her grandmother who represents the Macedonian culture of the past. Although they represent two generations, both women realise that they share a common condition, patriarchy, and that they both desire the same thing - a more considerate and thoughtful partner.'

Source: Contested Identity : Macedonians in Contemporary Australia, p.107.

'Two young people are engaged in emptying out their wardrobes and sifting through their clothes. They throw out what they consider useless clothes and keep only what they intend to wear. The play is a powerful exposition of the careful examination of Macedonian values and traditions and their suitability and usefulness in contemporary Australian conditions. Questions of identity are embedded in the pragmatic assessment of the value of past cultural beliefs, customs and practices from the perspective of the present.'

Source: Contested Identity : Macedonians in Contemporary Australia, p.106.

'The play looks at what from our past is valuable and what needs to be changed or discarded.'

Source: 'The Australian-Macedonian Drama Group' p.31.

'The second play, Familija na tuginci (Family of Strangers), also written by Dorothy Siouclis, deals with a patriarchal Macedonian family, through the eyes of a young man, Alec. Alec's family never goes out. At the age of twenty he feels restricted and frustrated with life. Late one night he tries to explain all this to his long-suffering sister, and proposes that they leave home to build a better future, away from the family's restrictions. The play explores the tensions between the generation of Alec's father and the 'solid' Macedonian values connected with what he regards as 'Macedonian tradition', and those of Alec's generation who find them too restrictive 104 and in need of change. Alec's parents interrupt the children's attempt to physically and metaphorically 'escape' from home and their conflicted condition, and order his sister back to her room (her 'prison' according to Alec). Alec then unleashes his full fury at them for their 'shameful' behavior and storms out. Alone, the parents worry that this quarrelling might threaten something they have kept secret for 20 years. Alec returns unexpectedly, accuses his father of not wanting him, and is devastated when old Giorgi reveals to him that he is not his biological father.'

Source: Contested Identity : Macedonians in Contemporary Australia, pp.104-105.

'Mara, the main character, is an impeccable and highly respected domakinka in Lalor, in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. But two unexpected and embarrassing incidents occur in the course of one week, which threaten to shatter Mara's good standing in the local Macedonian community.'

Source: Contested Identity : Macedonians in Contemporary Australia, p.104.