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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
For at least the first half of the twentieth century, Australian playwrights were not held in high regard by their compatriots. Popular opinion was summed up by fictional theatre manager M.J. Field in Frank A. Russell’s novel The Ashes of Achievement (1920):
‘I’ve got a play,’ commenced Philip, plunging.
Field jumped from his chair, hands spread out in defence.
‘Help!’ he yelped. ‘Anything but that. Not a bloody play, I ask you.’
‘What are you frightened of?’ he asked, when Field had resumed his seat.
‘I’ll tell you, Lee, on the understanding it goes no further. Australians can’t write plays; there you have it in a nutshell.’ (Introduction)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Last amended 7 Jun 2022 09:10:07
58-59
https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/archive/2022/june-2022-no-443/978-june-2022-no-443/9215-andrew-fuhrmann-reviews-australia-in-50-plays-by-julian-meyrick
Nationhood on Stage : Reassessing the Australian Theatrical Repertoire
Australian Book Review