Collected Plays Volume IV [Jack of Hearts/Cruise Control/Dream Home/Happiness]

Title: Collected Plays Volume IV [Jack of Hearts/Cruise Control/Dream Home/Happiness]
Author: Williamson, David
Price: $24.99

David Williamson is the most popular, prolific and produced playwright in Australian history. These four comedies consolidate his place as our greatest dramatic entertainer.

in Jack of Hearts, Williamson has written his charm into a lovable loser who does his best to disprove the theory that nice guys always finish last.

In Cruise Control three philandering, bickering and workaholic couples board a cruise ship travelling from London to New York for seven days of marital healing.

Dream Home follows Dana and Paul, whose dream turns into a nightmare when they discover their perfect beachside flat is festering with neighbours grudges, death threats, come-ons, heart-to-hearts, the smell of oysters, with Pauls ex-girlfriend living upstairs in the throes of regret.

In Happiness, Williamson follows Roland, a Professor of Wellbeing and his cynical wife Hanna as they grapple with the elusiveness of the emotion.

Williamson turns his unflinching gaze on the foibles and follies of married life and life itself.

Cast : Jack of Hearts: 4F, 3M/Cruise Control: 4F; 3M/Dream Home: 3F, 4M/Happiness: 2F; 5M


AUTHOR
David Williamsons first full-length play, The Coming of Stork, premiered at Melbourne's La Mama Theatre in 1970. He went on to pen over thirty plays and become Australias most successful playwright. His plays have been produced throughout Australia and internationally. A number of his stage works have been adapted for the screen, including The Removalists, Dons Party, The Club, Travelling North, Emerald City, Sanctuary and Brilliant Lies.

He won AFI screenplay awards for Petersen, Dons Party, Gallipoli and Travelling North. He has also won eleven AWGIE Awards.

He lives on Queenslands Sunshine Coast.

For a rich guide to understanding more about the work of David Williamson visit the 'What I wrote' series website where you can download Teacher's Notes, watch a trailer for the DVD and read information on the authors.

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Williamson says he was inspired to write Dream Home as he watched his children attempt to buy into the property market. The play centres on Paul and Dana who move into a highly mortgaged apartment, only to discover that they have nightmare neighbours. Cruise Control is a keenly observed comedy about three couples on the same voyage, each in the throes of a marital crisis. All have come on board in a last-ditch attempt to save their rocky marriages, but not surprisingly, it turns out to be not quite the healing journey they had in mind. In Happiness Williamson takes a satricial look at the wellbeing movement. Roland, a successful academic psychologist, is an expert in the pursuit of happiness but finds he has trouble in his own life. Jack of Hearts, is about a lovable loser who ventures into stand-up comedy to win back his girl. Along the way he discovers a talent for comedy which gives him the freedom to articulate his hidden feelings.

'Williamson has no peer in depicting modern life.' The Age

Publisher: Currency Press Pty Ltd
Publication date: 01/02/2016
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781925005479
Publishing status: AU Dropshipping in stock