AustLit

Clem and Carla are adamant that they will never bring a child into a world ravaged by war—a world where cancer tragically takes people’s lives. They see senseless death all around them. After travelling very far to see Sir Earnest in his Consulting Room, they are dismayed to discover that they do not have an appointment. However, in this mysterious, fantastical place, they will find themselves in the company of a young man and an elderly spinster who will change their lives forever.

A fantasy drama, described in contemporary newspapers as 'Locale midway between life and death; characters, the unborn, the living, and the dead; moral — boosting the birthrate.'

Source:

'Radiopinion: You Can Say What You Like', Sunday Mail, 13 June 1948, p.6.

Characters

CARLA

CLEM

NURSE

MISS EDWARDS

SIR EARNEST

DOCTOR

DAVID

'Alice Morton, wife of a wealthy Sydney bookmaker, took time off from her "full rich life" of card parties, committees, fashion parades and race meetings to send a food parcel to England. Her conscience salved, she immediately forgot the action. But it was recalled twelve months later when Valerie Hickman, a young woman from London called on Mrs. Morton to thank her for the gift.

'Bill Morton, young and impetuous, was immediately attracted to Valerie. She became introduced to the Morton set–wealthy, irresponsible, selfish. Valerie also met Greg Broderick, a disabled war hero, in whom she confided her fear that the moral decay of the Australian people had placed this country in grave danger.'

Source:

'Lazy in the Sun', South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, 10 December 1951, p.3 [supplementary feature section].

Characters

ANNOUNCER

ALICE MORTON

ARTHUR MORTON

GRACE Alice's sister

ANNA the housekeeper

VALERIE HICKMAN

BILL 

GREG

CONSTANCE 

HAL

This play is based on the life of Colonel William Light, the first surveyor-General of South Australia. When the action takes place, Light has arrived in South Australia to find that his surveying equipment and staff are not up to the huge task before him. Tempers rise in the colony when immigrants arrive to find that the land they purchased has not yet been surveyed. Light’s antagonist, John Hindmarsh, is determined to compromise Light’s career. Amongst the jealousy and anger, Light finds comfort in a young woman named Linda Manners. Awake My Love depicts the struggle of an honest, admirable man against the unrelenting torments of rivals, heartbreak, illness, and misfortune.

Characters

COLONEL WILLIAM LIGHT

GOVERNOR HINDMARSH

MRS. ORCHARD

MR. ORCHARD

AMELIA ORCHARD

MRS. MANNERS

MR. MANNERS

LINDA MANNERS

TRAVERS FINNISS

DIXON - MANNER'S HOUSEKEEPER

MARIA - LIGHT'S HOUSEKEEPER

STEVENSON

GILLES

HERBERT

ALGERNON

Monica Sefton has worked out the perfect murder, and once she finishes her crime play she is certain to be famous. But she doesn't count on her manuscript mysteriously disappearing, or on the sudden appearance of a stray black cat. These omens mark the beginning of events Monica never imagined—a real murder case where she is the key suspect.

Characters

BILL SEFTON A journalist

MONICA his wife (also a writer)

MRS. IDAMAE LAMPREY their landlady

DR. GILBERT NORTON a neighbour

SYLVIA MEADE (hat and gloves)

ANDREW MEADE (thin, untidy man in his mid-thirties, fellow journalist to BILL)

DETECTIVE DENNIS MARSH

CONSTABLE POGSON

CHIEF INSPECTOR WILLIAM BURKE (fifties, formal)

CORPSE (non-acting)

CAT (soft toy)

'The action takes place in a studio audition-room [...] The story concerns Larry Carlson, Australian soldier, and Clay Tuttle, an American serviceman, who meet in Finschhafen, New Guinea. When both are invalided out of the Army, they meet again in Sydney, and it is then that their plans of acquiring a radio station are realised. The success of this venture depends entirely on interesting two wealthy sponsors. An audition is duly arranged, and Mr. McGuinnis is present, while Mr. Mandelberg listens-in at home. But Mr McGuinnis rather complicates things by falling out of his chair, dead. It is then that things begin to happen.'

Source: 'Thriller by Local Dramatist', Australian Women's Weekly, 5 August 1944, p.15.

Characters

CLARENCE PARSONS a radio actor

MURIEL PARSONS his wife

ARNOLD VICKERY studio supervisor

FERN SUTTON

CLAY TUTTLE

LARRY CARLSON general manager

CHARLES MCGINNIS a visitor

MRS. JANET VAN LEYDEN

JOSEPH MANDELBERG a businessman