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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Set on a stretch of rocky beach on an island off the north-west coast of Australia this one-act has two characters.
Mrs Boake, alone on an island lighthouse, recalls the death of her daughters as an Act of God. In the maudlin, sentimental simplicity of a mentally low old lady, she sings 'Abide With Me' as she reminisces. Her husband is gone to the mainland with two small pearls they have found. Parkson, a criminal, comes to frighten her into disclosing where the hoard is hidden, having heard of the pearls before Boake, inebriated, is knocked down and killed on the mainland. Her simplicity is her strength and Parkson cannot pierce her armour. She steadfastly holds to her assertion that there are no other pearls. She is shocked when he tells her of her husband's death, but refuses to leave the island with him and as he rows away she is heard singing 'Abide With Me'.
Abstract adapted fromThe Campbell Howard Annotated Index of Australian Plays 1920-1955.
Production Details
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First produced by the Mermaid Play Society at the Playhouse, Melbourne, April 1922. Also produced at the Drama Theatre, Monash University, Melbourne, 28 September - 2nd October 1995.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Five Plays by Women
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , April no. 179 1996; (p. 52-53)
— Review of The Gap 1995 single work drama ; Feet of Clay 1928 single work drama ; The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife 1922 single work drama ; Delphiniums 1943 single work drama ; Playing the Past : Three Plays by Australian Women 1995 selected work drama ; The History of Water 1995 single work drama -
Repertory Theatre in Australia : Introduction to Playing the Past : Three Plays by Australian Women
1995
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: Playing the Past : Three Plays by Australian Women 1995; (p. v-xvii) -
The Drama
1922
single work
review
— Appears in: Corroboree : The Journal of the Australian Literature Society , May vol. 1 no. 8 1922; (p. 7)
-
Five Plays by Women
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , April no. 179 1996; (p. 52-53)
— Review of The Gap 1995 single work drama ; Feet of Clay 1928 single work drama ; The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife 1922 single work drama ; Delphiniums 1943 single work drama ; Playing the Past : Three Plays by Australian Women 1995 selected work drama ; The History of Water 1995 single work drama -
The Drama
1922
single work
review
— Appears in: Corroboree : The Journal of the Australian Literature Society , May vol. 1 no. 8 1922; (p. 7) -
Repertory Theatre in Australia : Introduction to Playing the Past : Three Plays by Australian Women
1995
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: Playing the Past : Three Plays by Australian Women 1995; (p. v-xvii)
- North Western Australia, Western Australia,