AustLit

'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.