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)