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Away is a play written by the Australian playwright Michael Gow, published by Currency Press in 1986. First performed by the Griffin Theatre Company in 1986, it tells the story of three internally conflicted families holidaying on the coast for Christmas, 1968. It has become one of the most widely produced Australian plays of all time and is part of the Higher School Certificate syllabi or general High School Curriculum in many states, including Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. It is also used as a college text, but this move has been widely regarded as a bad idea due to the lack of interest that is generated from students in the Australian Capital Territory. This is especially the case when one considers the fact that Gow did not "know what play is about" until some time after he wrote it and got feedback from a fan. This fan was probably his reflection in the mirror.
Each of the three families hopes that the holiday will resolve the crisis that they face. Roy, a headmaster, and Coral, his wife, realise that their marriage is falling apart as they grieve the death of their son in the Vietnam War. Tom, an English immigrant and a pupil at Roy's school, knows that he is dying of leukaemia even though his parents, Harry and Vic, have yet to tell him. Tom's family know that this could be their last holiday together, so they are determined to have fun. The third family comprises uptight, martyrish mother, Gwen, her husband, Jim, and their daughter, Meg, who has become friends with Tom because of their mutual appearances in the recent school play. There is a mutual affection between Meg and Tom that is explored and challenged during a sex scene, where Tom - aware that his life is soon to end - transforms into a desperate weeping puppy and begs Meg to "Let do it to ". After a storm the three families find themselves thrown together on the beach that is the play's setting and their antagonism is explored and resolved.
With the play's
Each of the three families hopes that the holiday will resolve the crisis that they face. Roy, a headmaster, and Coral, his wife, realise that their marriage is falling apart as they grieve the death of their son in the Vietnam War. Tom, an English immigrant and a pupil at Roy's school, knows that he is dying of leukaemia even though his parents, Harry and Vic, have yet to tell him. Tom's family know that this could be their last holiday together, so they are determined to have fun. The third family comprises uptight, martyrish mother, Gwen, her husband, Jim, and their daughter, Meg, who has become friends with Tom because of their mutual appearances in the recent school play. There is a mutual affection between Meg and Tom that is explored and challenged during a sex scene, where Tom - aware that his life is soon to end - transforms into a desperate weeping puppy and begs Meg to "Let do it to ". After a storm the three families find themselves thrown together on the beach that is the play's setting and their antagonism is explored and resolved.
With the play's
Bibliography: Beckett, Wendy. Michael Gow 's Away Bramwell, Murray. 'Dreamtime ', Adelaide Review, No.46 January 1988 : pp. 21–22 Gay, Penny. 'Michael Gow 's Away: the Shakespeare connection ', Reconnoitres: Essays in Australian Literature in Honour of G.A. Wilkes 1992 pp. 204–213, Hough, David. 'Away off the Mark ', The Bulletin 1992, Vol.114 No.5838, 22 September. pp. 82–83 Mitchell, Heather. Brodies notes on Michael Gow 's Away Payne, Pamela. 'Gow goes for less sentimentality, more power ', Sydney Morning Herald 12 June 1992 : p16 Radic, Leonard. The state of play: revolution in the Australian theatre since the 1960s, Webby, Elizabeth. 'Away ', Modern Australian Plays 1990 pp. 54–64