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Play with music.
Gorman's play examines three women's conflicting emotions as they try to rid themselves of the ties of the past, and come to terms with memories of a dead man and the shelter of his decaying house. The narrative essentially revolves around the personality and grievances of the mother, Pat Harding - a dedicated hypochondriac and shrew - who having lost her husband twice, firstly through adulteries with Annie, and secondly through death, self melodramatises her existence by holding court in a sick room and issuing orders from her bed. Tension rises as each of the characters is forced to deal with differing versions of the past, and this leads to explosive clashes, mostly between mother and daughter, and the mother and her housekeeper.
Notes
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This entry has been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian-written music theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.
Production Details
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- First produced by the Stage Company at the Space Theatre, Festival Centre, Adelaide beginning 4 June 1981. Director John Noble. The production's musician, John Francis (q.v.), composed the music and songs.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Stretching the Naturalistic Sinews
1983
single work
criticism
— Appears in: A Night in the Arms of Raeleen [and] The Harding Women 1983; (p. 7-13)
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Stretching the Naturalistic Sinews
1983
single work
criticism
— Appears in: A Night in the Arms of Raeleen [and] The Harding Women 1983; (p. 7-13)
