Lawson (play)

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Lawson
Written by Oriel Gray
Based onstories of Henry Lawson
CharactersHenry Lawson
Date premiered10 October 1943
Place premiered New Theatre, Sydney
Original languageEnglish
Genredrama

Lawson is a 1943 Australian play by Oriel Gray. [1] [2] It was based on short stories by Henry Lawson. [3]

The Sydney Morning Herald said "the play is a very entertaining and dramatic experiment with its well-selected material and craftsmanship." [4]

Leslie Rees called it "well-liked... an adaptation of some of Henry Lawson’s human stories, ostensibly told by the billy-boiling Henry himself over the campfire. Little Arvie Aspinall and the country woman of “Past Carin’” came movingly to life and were in contrast to the humorous people of “Send Round the Hat”." [5]

Pertinent said "The play, unconventional in presentation and lighting effects... is the best piece of Australian propaganda I have witnessed for many months. There is not much “business’’ in it, but the dialogue is forceful and worthy of the memory of Australia’s greatest writer." [6]

The play was given a number of productions including ones in 1953, [7] 1961 [8] and 1967. [9]

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References

  1. ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (29 November 1952), "NEWS and GOSSIP", ABC Weekly, 14 (48), nla.obj-1401475893, retrieved 21 January 2024– via Trove
  2. ↑ "ORIGINAL PLAY ABOUT LAWSON". Daily Mirror. Vol. 753. New South Wales, Australia. 11 October 1943. p. 5 (War News Edition). Retrieved 21 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Holiday Well Spent THEATRE CLUB STUDIES IN BUSHLAND", Pix., 13 (9), 26 February 1944, nla.obj-477738841, retrieved 21 January 2024– via Trove
  4. ↑ "LAWSON'S WORKS AS STAGE PLAY". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 33, 014. New South Wales, Australia. 18 October 1943. p. 7. Retrieved 21 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ Rees, Leslie (1987). Australian drama, 1970-1985 : a historical and critical survey. p. 202.
  6. ↑ "Australian Theatre Review and Preview", Pertinent., 3 (1), September–October 1943, nla.obj-3085187221, retrieved 21 January 2024– via Trove
  7. ↑ "LAWSON IS A MUST". Tribune. South Australia. 25 November 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 21 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "LAWSON", The Bulletin, 82 (4232), 22 Mar 1961, nla.obj-745346576, retrieved 21 January 2024– via Trove
  9. ↑ "Gay opening for Lawson play". Tribune. No. 1515. New South Wales, Australia. 28 June 1967. p. 6. Retrieved 21 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.


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