Press Gang (play)

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Press Gang
Written byMargaret Pearson
Directed by Doris Fitton
Date premieredApril 4, 1942 (1942-04-04)
Place premiered Independent Theatre, Sydney
Original languageEnglish
Settingnewspaper office

Press Gang is a 1942 Australian play by journalist Margaret Pearson. It premiered at the Independent Theatre in Sydney. [1] [2] It followed on from another Australian play at the same theatre Lady in Danger . [3]

Contents

The play was also performed in Brisbane. [4]

The play was also performed on radio in 1943. [5]

Premise

Women working on a newspaper uncover a spy ring.

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald felt it "provided bright entertainment for a full house. It was almost entirely a woman's production, as there were only two male parts, one of which was a silent part." [6]

Wireless Weekly called it "mildly entertaining" but felt "it was an unsuitable choice to follow the successful Lady in Danger for both plays use the now cliche plot material of Nazi espionage. Also Press Gang by comparison, shows a lack of craftsmanship. " [7]

The Daily Telegraph claimed "Failure to accent the climax in each act inclined to make the performance drag, otherwise it was well up to Independent Theatre standard." [8]

References

  1. ↑ "For War Effort". The Sun. No. 10037. New South Wales, Australia. 6 March 1942. p. 6 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 25 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 32, 551. New South Wales, Australia. 25 April 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "MUSIC AND DRAMA". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 32, 533. New South Wales, Australia. 4 April 1942. p. 6. Retrieved 25 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "AUSTRALIAN PLAY BY AMATEUR GROUP". The Courier-mail . No. 3011. Queensland, Australia. 1 May 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Australian Theatre Review and Preview", Pertinent., Sydney: Pertinent Publishing Co, March 1943, nla.obj-3088444371, retrieved 25 February 2025– via Trove
  6. ↑ ""PRESS GANG"". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 32, 534. New South Wales, Australia. 6 April 1942. p. 7. Retrieved 25 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ Australasian Radio Relay League (April 11, 1942), "THE LITTLE THEATRES", The Wireless Weekly, Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-737907774, retrieved 25 February 2025– via Trove
  8. ↑ ""PRESS GANG" PREMIERE". Daily Mirror. Vol. 1, no. 281. New South Wales, Australia. 6 April 1942. p. 5 (War News Edition). Retrieved 25 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
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