Summer of the 17th doll
Ray Lawler's, "Summer of the 17th doll" captures the aura of a rapidly changing 1950's, focusing on the failures of a dilapidated Melbourne household, whilst also illustrating the changing characters of the Australian nation. Built around the traditions of a "lay off" period Lawler's famous play, in its language, costume and setting is exotically Australian and explores the failures of Australia's characters to grow up and recognize there is future, beyond high times and "livin'" Lawler's play, directed by Rod Kinnear, in 1977, although staying fairly true to the original script fails to capture the aura and importance of the "lay off", whilst also alters audience perceptions of Lawler's characters. True to the play, Sumner shatters the Olive's vision of the "lay off," however such a dramatic event fails in its intended effect upon the audience.Lawler's stage directions are quick to establish the importance of the "lay off" even before a word is spoken. With "little pattern or taste" evident in the furniture, the souvenirs and kewpie dolls are the "main decorative features." These, by themselves represent the long-standing tradition between the characters, Olive, Roo and Barney. Similarly through the likes of Bubba, Lawler is
Similarly Bubba and Olive gaily moving around the set together whilst Pearl sits motionless away from these two characters. Bubba, is a youthful figure who enjoys and anticipates the tradition of the lay off and thus in her manner she continues to create audience anticipation for the arrival of Roo and Barney and thus the beginning of the extensive tradition. The impact and importance of this scene, upon the audience, is lost through Kinnear's stage play. Pearl's presence is most noticeably felt in Kinnear's stage play, which continues to adds to the failure of the stage lay to capture the aura of the "lay off. Similarly Bubba appears on the stage an older character, with less seriousness in her anticipation of the lay off. Bubba's walking sticks, yet another symbol of the "lay off" do not "impress" Pearl, however the audience are still able to sense the excitement and aura such a tradition brings to the small Melbournian household. As Olive appears and reminisces about her experiences of the lay off Pearl is positioned far away on the opposite side of the room. Kinnear's stage production is directed with a lack of anticipation and similarly a subtle disapproval of the lay off, thus the audience through these final scenes regard the conclusion of seventeen years of tradition as an flee from the lost anticipation and irresponsible behavior characterized by the lay off season. The large and spacious setting of the room does not enable the clearing of Olive's treasured souvenirs to have the same effect upon the audience as Lawler had intended. Although Lawler carefully constructs the aura of the lay off period, Kinnear is less meticulous in the creation of such a tradition. With the entire history and excitement of the tradition placed upon one character, the importance and aura of the lay off period is lost in the Kinnear's stage production. quick to establish a feel of excitement throughout his play. Lawler's Summer of the 17th Doll illustrated the negative impacts of characters whom refused to change and see that high times must come to an end with age, however did not create Pearl to impose such a stern and immoral view of the lay off period. The audience, thus, do not view the destruction of the tradition with the same impact as in Lawler's direction, representing Kinnear's disapproval of the lay off period. Similarly Pearl is removed from the characters in the stage play on multiple occasions.
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Acceptance Essays
