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The Chapel Perilous

Playwright: Hewett, Dorothy
Year: 1971
Type: Play
Edition: Graduate Dramatic Society GRADS, 1971
Currency Press, 1985 [1972]

Synopsis

Dorothy's Hewett's epic play has grown into a classic of the new Australian theatre and Sally Banner into a national heroine. A major statement on the woman artist's quest for freedom and self-realisation in a community uncertain of its standards, the play is full of lyricism, music, satire and self-parody. It traces Sally's life from school days, through lovers, attempted suicide, marriage and politics to disillusion and, at the end of her life, the artist's ever-present sense of failure, ironically coupled with worldly success. – publisher's blurb

Narrative Locations

The chapel, Perth region, Western Australia  

Temporal setting: Circa 1930-1960

Location notes:

The play is staged with the single chapel setting, identified as being in Perth but otherwise not geographically located. Many Perth and West Australian landmarks are mentioned by characters throughout the play, including the Navy base at Crawley, the University of Western Australia and Widgiemooltha where protagonist Sally Banner was born. Coordinates have been given for Perth and are approximate.

Quotes

“Setting

A permanent set. Upstage against the cyclorama is the outline of a school chapel with a stained glass window discovered later to contain a figure of Sally Banner. Three shallow steps lead to the chapel and the tower is accessible. In front of the chapel are three rostrums and an altar on a platform. Large masks of the Headmistress, the Canon and Sister Rosa remain constant throughout the play, standing on the three rostrums and large enough to hide an actor behind each. Three loud-speakers are placed prominently.

The three masked figures play the roles of judges of the action against the landscape of the profane chapel. Sometimes they play themselves, sometimes they step from behind the masks into the body of the play and become other characters.”

(p. 4)





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