Morning Sacrifice
Wed, 12 Feb 2003, 11:45 amWalter Plinge1 post in thread
Morning Sacrifice
Wed, 12 Feb 2003, 11:45 amI haven't yet seen the film 'Far from Heaven', however a review of it in the 'West' said it was all about sexuality, repression and middle class hypocrisy in a bygone era without camping it up too much. I think the same could be said of Garrick's current production of Dymphna Cusack's play 'Morning Sacrifice' which I saw last Saturday.
Set in a girls' school staffroom, some 25 years after the suffragettes and 35 years before the sexual revolution, this play deals with issues of gender, equality of opportunity, morals and ethics against a backdrop of institutionalised educational priorities. I understand that the writer was in fact a teacher in the 30s who was sidelined for her rebellious views.
The all-female cast of 9 is extremely strong and works very well ensemble. The depth of talent here is perhaps the main reason why they manage to sustain the characters and carry it off as a serious drama, despite the (now) ludicrously repressive environment in which the characters exist. Full credit too to the doubtlessly firm direction of Norma Standing.
Set and lighting design were simple and adequate. Costumes and hairstyling were excellent and went a long way to establishing the period of the piece from the first scene.
My only bitch (pardon the expression) is that for a bunch of tough females, they all seemed nice enough to eat. But then, perhaps that is what it was really like in Australia in the 1930s?
- Only 3 more performances, so catch it while you can!
Set in a girls' school staffroom, some 25 years after the suffragettes and 35 years before the sexual revolution, this play deals with issues of gender, equality of opportunity, morals and ethics against a backdrop of institutionalised educational priorities. I understand that the writer was in fact a teacher in the 30s who was sidelined for her rebellious views.
The all-female cast of 9 is extremely strong and works very well ensemble. The depth of talent here is perhaps the main reason why they manage to sustain the characters and carry it off as a serious drama, despite the (now) ludicrously repressive environment in which the characters exist. Full credit too to the doubtlessly firm direction of Norma Standing.
Set and lighting design were simple and adequate. Costumes and hairstyling were excellent and went a long way to establishing the period of the piece from the first scene.
My only bitch (pardon the expression) is that for a bunch of tough females, they all seemed nice enough to eat. But then, perhaps that is what it was really like in Australia in the 1930s?
- Only 3 more performances, so catch it while you can!