Away_by_Michael_Gow_(Answers_the_Questions)

QUESTIONS 1. Find out the characters in “Away” written by Michael Gow! 2. Tell the stories of each acts in this drama! 3. Who do you think the director of this presentation' 4. What can you tell about the uniforms put on by the characters in this drama' 5. Can you give information about the properties used by the director of “Away”' 6. What can you tell about the stage setting constructed in each acts' 7. Can you tell how many settings of place and time in the whole drama “Away”' (in each acts) 8. When can we be able to know the central theme' 9. What is the central theme' 10. Are you satisfied with this ending' How could it be ended' ANSWERS 1. CHARACTERS : a). Tom : Tom is a high-school student and the son of Harry and Vic. He plays in a Shakespeare’s drama, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Tom has Leukemia, and his parents, Harry and Vic, haven’t told him that he is going to die, but Tom has worked it out already. He is inspired despite his pain to lead others out of theirs. He shows strength and summons courage into the hearts of others. b). Meg : Meg is a high-school student and a friend of Tom. She plays in the school drama with Tom. Meg is battling to break out of the mould her parents, Gwen and Jim, are trying to cast her in, and become independent. c) Coral : She’s still grieving by her son’s death in the Vietnam War. Because of that, she realizes that her marriage is falling apart. She thinks Rick and Tom like her lost son. d) Roy : Coral’s husband. His marriage is falling apart because of the death of their son in the war. e). Gwen : Gwen is a nagging wife and mother. Gwen is a rather uptight and stressed person and thinks that to have anything good happen you have to make sacrifices. She purposefully picks fights just to prove that she is the dominant family member. It can be seen that Gwen was a selfish and bellicose person before she undergoes her transforming journey of self-discovery. Actually, her actions and language are only to hide the pain and fear she felt. f) Jim : Gwen’s husband and Meg’s father. He is a meek father. g). Harry : He is Tom’s father. Harry’s appreciation to his son is to accept death. He tries to support his son in every way. h) Vic : She is Tom’s mother. She tries to support his son, Tom, in every way. i) Rick : Coral thinks Rick as her lost son. He loves to talk to her. He is on his honeymoon and his new wife does not like when he wants to meet Coral. j) Leonie : She is one of the hotel guests at the Gold Coast Luxury Hotel. She has an uncomfortable conversation with Coral. I think she has a problem with her husband. k) First Camper, Second Camper, Third Camper, Forth Camper : they talk with Jim about their plan to approach the Council to build the comfortable facilities for all campers in that area. l). MC : he brings the audience with a funny joke. m) Miss Latrobe : appear in Act Five as Tom and Meg’s teacher. The central character is Tom because Tom throughout the play acts as a catalyst for the change in other characters and is associated with Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His strength to survive change the other characters. He gives a great inspiration about life to the other characters. 2. THE STORIES Set in the Australian summer of 1967, Michael Gow’s Away is an elaborate play which explores the ideas of self-discovery and change.   Through the war affected nation, three families, each from different social classes, depart on an iconic Australian holiday to the beach. Roy and Coral (the headmaster and his wife) are becoming increasingly close to breaking up. Their son was killed in the Vietnam War and Coral is still grieving for him. Tom and Meg were in the school’s production of A Midsummer’s Nights Dream. Tom has Leukemia, and his parents, Harry and Vic, haven’t told him that he is going to die, but Tom has worked it out already. Tom and his family immigrated to Australia form England. They are going on holiday knowing that it could be their last together as a family, and are determined to have a good time. Meg is the same age as Tom and they both like each other. Meg’s parents, Gwen and Jim are going on holiday so Gwen can have a break. Gwen is a nagging wife and mother. She tries to prove that she is the dominant family member. Act One Scene 1 : The final scene of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which opens the play presented in a school performance. The dialogue of the Shakespeare’s drama ended by a character named Puck who soon to be revealed as Tom. After that, the headmaster gives a short speech to the audiences. Scene 2 : The introduction of the characters. There are three different families with different class but know each other who plan for their summer holiday. Gwen’s jealousy and materialistic nature shows when she insults Tom and his family by saying that ‘They shouldn’t be going a holiday if they can’t afford one.’(page 11). Tom hear what Gwen has said before and angry. Scene 3 : Roy (the headmaster) and his wife, Coral, who is going to go home. Act Two Scene 1 : Harry worries if his son, Tom, tired but Tom said that he’s fine. Tom and Harry talk about their preparation for the vacation, how they will enjoy the holiday and about the Christmas present. Scene 2 : The story is about Jim, Gwen and Meg (family)’s preparation for their annual summer vacation. Meg and Gwen argue a little about how they’ll have fun at the vacation. Then, Meg and Jim talk about Gwen’s past about how hard her life is when she’s going away from home, meet Jim, and get married. Scene 3 : Roy and Coral argued about Coral’s behavior who always behave like a ghost. She wanders around with strange smile, staring into the distance, not seeing anyone, and ignoring people. Because of that behavior, Roy doubt if they’ll take a rest, relax and going away for awhile. Coral promises to improve, get better and have fun. Scene 4 : Tom was thirsty. He cannot sleep because he’s a bit excited about their holiday. His mother, Vic, cannot sleep either. They talk about their Christmas present for the other family members. Act Three Scene 1 : Coral talks to a woman named Leonie. Leonie is one of the hotel guests. Coral tries to talk and get along but Leonie begs to let her go. Coral tries and pushes Leonie to answer her questions but Coral ask about private things. Leonie wrenches herself free and retreats, sobbing. After that, Coral sees a young man named Rick. Coral talks to him and Coral likes to talks to Rick. Rick is on his honeymoon. They talk about the hotel, the standard living of their country and the marriage life. Then, Roy comes and brings Coral for dinner. Scene 2 : The story about Jim, Gwen and Meg (family)’s Christmas morning. It begins when they put the fake Christmas tree. They exchange present they bought. Gwen purposefully leaves Meg’s Christmas present behind in hope to start a fight; when they do fight, she places the blame on Jim for being careless. Yet, when Meg discovers that Gwen had left the gift behind on purpose, Gwen shifts the argument onto Meg’s behavior and calls her ‘A nasty, snide girl’ (page 32). Gwen purposefully picks fights just to prove that she is the dominant family member. Then, Jim tells Meg about Gwen’s past. After that, a clump of campers comes in. They talk with Jim. They talk about their plans to approach the Council to build the comfortable facilities for all campers in that area. Scene 3 : Coral and Rick meets by accident at the roof of the Gold Coast Luxury Hotel. They talk about how they liked each other and Susie, Rick’s wife, who is angry to Rick because he always spent his time with Coral not her. Then, they’re hiding in the dark. Roy is searching for Coral for New Year’s party. Coral and Rick come out of the dark. Roy sent him away and Coral got angry to him. Coral though Rick as her lost son. Roy asks Coral to see a doctor. Coral said not to worry about her and she’ll think about it. Scene 4 : There is a storm violently attack. Jim and Gwen tries to save their properties and go away from their camp spot. Scene 5 : Tom, Vic and Harry are discovered on a beach. They somehow miss the storm. Act Four Scene 1 : Tom’s family and Meg’s family end up on the same beach. Meg’s family thought they would just go straight home. However, they want to save something of the holiday and stay in a motel. They do not like the motel. They decided to go home but Meg insists to turn off the highway and they end up meet Tom’s family. Then, Vic and Gwen go for a walk. Harry tells Jim about Tom’s disease. Harry tells that Tom has Leukemia and tries to survive even though Tom doesn’t know about his disease. Harry asks Jim to keep it as secret. Gwen and Vic come back and they’re like supporting each other. Scene 2 : It begins when Meg tries to guess who is the woman at the beach. Tom tells Meg that the woman is the headmaster’s wife and a very good actress. Tom asks Meg to do ‘it’. ‘It’ means the sexual intercourse. Later, Tom tells Meg that he has a disease. Although he doesn’t know what kind of disease it is but he knows he has a serious disease. Meg promises not to tell anyone that Tom knew his disease but she still can’t do what Tom has ask about the sexual intercourse. Then, they just talk about the concert for the night. Scene 3 : The concert begins when the MC appears and tells a few funny jokes. Later, the MC introduces a play The Stranger on the Shore who will be performed by Tom and Coral. The story is about a sailor who died but the heaven didn’t accept him yet. He becomes a ghost. He met a woman. The woman loves him. When the ship was leaving the dock, the woman has thrown herself into the water, she’ll die but the god of the sea took pity on her and turned her into a mermaid. She follows the sailor everywhere but the sailor cannot let her be like that. The god of sea took pity on them and give the sailor one wish. The sailor could just ask to be a human again but instead he chose to save the woman he loved. He wished that his love walk again. The god completely surprised but granted his wish. The sailor taught the woman to walk again. Act Five Scene 1 : It is about Meg is going away from home and becomes independent. Gwen turns to go but stops. Jim gives Gwen a present, a pair of slippers. Roy reconciles with Coral. The lights becomes bright, summery, morning. Scene 2 : Set outdoors, the students sit in a circle, Tom and his classmates undertake the first reading of their new text, King Lear by Shakespeare. The audiences feel the pain through the words of Tom from the text while his friend read on unconsciously. 3. THE DIRECTOR The director is Michael Gow, the writer of the play. 4. THE UNIFORMS The uniforms must appropriate with the time in 1967 at summer. Act One Scene 1 : fairy costume, outfit of the Shakespearean play, formal suit for Roy Scene 2 : dress for the women, shirt and trousers for the men, handbag Scene 3 : formal dress for Coral, formal suit for Roy Act Two Scene 1 : daily outfit Scene 2 : daily outfit for average families Scene 3 : daily outfit for classy families Scene 4 : daily outfit Act Three Scene 1 : dress for Coral and Leonie, shirt and trousers for Rick and Roy, Roy’s jacket, Rick’s watch Scene 2 : summer outfit, short pants, thin shirts, summer dress for the women Scene 3 : formal dress for Coral, formal suit for Rick and Roy Scene 4 : summer outfits Scene 5 : board shorts and an Hawaiian shirts for Tom, summer dress, a spectacular sunhat Act Four Scene 1 : summer dress for the women, short pants and thin shirts for Tom, a flowing kaftan, dark glasses a huge straw hat over a scarf Scene 2 : summer dress for Meg, short pants and thin shirt for Tom Scene 3 : dress of hula girl for MC, sailor outfit, dress for Coral, curtain for mermaid, handkerchief Act Five Scene 1 : daily summer dress, pants and thin shirts, hat Scene 2 : school uniforms, dress 5. THE PROPERTIES Act One Scene 1 : curtain, timber, tinny loudspeaker, the painting Music : the Mendelssohn soundtrack Scene 2 : the painting, curtain, brooch Scene 3 : curtain Act Two Scene 1 : curtain, suitcases Scene 2 : curtain, flippers, pillow slip, towels, box/case, Thermos, bags/suitcases, clothes, cardboard cartoon Scene 3 : curtain, painting Scene 4 : curtain, glasses Act Three Scene 1 : curtain, tables, chairs Music : summer dance music Scene 2 : tent, caravan city, fake Christmas tree, presents with wrapping papers Scene 3 : curtain, painting like the roof of a hotel, glass Music & Sound : people’s singing Auld Lang Syne, sound of the party Scene 4 : curtain, car, clothes, stove Music : Mendelssohn’s Wedding March Scene 5 : curtain, painting like a sunwarm beach, fishing reel Music : the opening bars of Mendelssohn’s Dream overture Lights : dark and then become warm and intense Act Four Scene 1 : curtain, painting of a beach, a glass of water, Bex powder Scene 2 : curtain, painting of a beach, wood Scene 3 : ukulele, curtain, painting of a ship and a dock Act Five Scene 1 : suitcases, cardboard cartoon, a parcel, a pair of slippers, a handful of shells Music : Nocturne Lights : bright, summery, morning Scene 2 : books, curtain 6. THE STAGE SETTING Act One Scene 1 : School stage, the audiences’ seat Scene 2 : backstage Scene 3 : outdoors Act Two Scene 1 : home Scene 2 : home Scene 3 : home Scene 4 : home Act Three Scene 1 : like a restaurant in a hotel Scene 2 : camp site with many tents Scene 3 : the roof of a hotel Scene 4 : outdoors, beach Scene 5 : outdoors, beach Act Four Scene 1 : beach Scene 2 : beach Scene 3 : beach with a stage to perform a play Act Five Scene 1 : outdoors Scene 2 : outdoor of school 7. THE SETTING (TIME & PLACE) Act One Scene 1 : Time : Late December 1967, Summer, Night Place: School Stage Scene 2 : Time : Late December 1967, Summer, Night, After the School Performance Place : Backstage Scene 3 : Time : Late December 1967, Summer, Night, After School Performance Place : Outside the school, near the parking lot Act Two Scene 1 : Time : Late December 1967, Summer, Night Place : Tom, Harry and Vic’s house Scene 2 : Time : Late December 1967, Summer, Night Place : Meg, Gwen and Jim’s house Scene 3 : Time : Late December 1967, Summer, Night Place : Roy and Coral’s house Scene 4 : Time : Late December 1967, Summer, Late Night Place : Tom, Harry and Vic’s house Act Three Scene 1 : Time : 25 December 1967, Summer, Christmas Morning Place : A Gold Coast Luxury Hotel, the restaurant Scene 2 : Time : 25 December 1967, Summer, Christmas Morning Place : A tent and caravan city, near the water Scene 3 : Time : 31 Dec 1967 – 1 Jan 1968, Summer, Night, Almost New Year – New Year 1968 Place : The roof of the Gold Coast Luxury Hotel Scene 4 : Time : Dec 1967/Jan 1968, Summer, Night Place : A tent and caravan city, near the water Scene 5 : Time : Dec 1967/Jan 1968, Summer, Morning to Midday Place : On a beach without storm Act Four Scene 1 : Time : Early January 1968, Summer, Evening Place : On a beach with a headland, a big rock platform Scene 2 : Time : Early January 1968, Summer, Evening Place : On a beach with a headland, a big rock platform Scene 3 : Time : Early January 1968, Summer, Night Place : On a beach with a headland, a big rock platform, with a stage to perform a play Act Five Scene 1 : Time : January 1968, Summer, Morning Place : Outdoors Scene 2 : Time : January 1968, Summer, Morning Place : The schoolyard 8. HOW TO KNOW THE CENTRAL THEME We can be able to know the central theme by reading the drama of “Away” written by Michael Gow time after time. We know the story well from each acts, each scenes. We need to try to understand about the story. 9. THE CENTRAL THEME The central themes are recreation, reconciliation and hope. 10. THE ENDING I am not satisfied with the ending of the drama “Away” written by Michael Gow. I think it could be ended by the closer relationship between Tom and Meg. Meg can support Tom until the end of his life. Although Tom will die someday but I hope the drama will show more about the end of Tom’s life and how he’ll struggle to live. I hope the drama will show more about Tom’s impact to the other people around him because of his strength to survive.