About this title: Marlene hosts a dinner part in a London restaurant to celebrate her promotion to managing director of 'Top Girls' employment agency. Her guests are five women from the past: Isabella Bird (1831- 1904), the adventurous traveller; Lady Nijo (b1258), the mediaeval Japanese courtesan who became a Buddhist nun and travelled on foot through Japan; Dull Gret, who as Dulle Griet in a Bruegel painting, led a crowd of women on a charge through hell; Pope Joan, the transvestite early female pope and last but not least Patient Griselda, and obedient wife out of Chaucer. As the evening continues we are ...
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Description: Acceptable. Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Methuen Drama
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780413554802ISBN:0413554805
Description: Fine. Like new, never read-books may have a remainder mark, small tear, crease, or other minor defect. Apart from this, excellent condition. No.1 BESTSELLERS-great prices, friendly customer service-usually dispatched within 24 hrs. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Methuen Drama
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780413772312ISBN:0413772314
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Methuen Drama
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780413772312ISBN:0413772314
Description: Good. All orders are dispatched from our UK warehouse within one working day. Established in 2004. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied. read more
Description: Satisfaction Guaranteed. Shipped quickly. 2003. Paperback. Used, very good. Very good overall with light to moderate wear. No dust jacket. read more
Description: Satisfaction Guaranteed. Shipped quickly. 1982. Paperback. Used, very good. Very good overall with light to moderate wear. No dust jacket. read more
"This was a rather interesting take on feminism by Carly Churchill. I really thought that she handled all her characters, style and language well in the play.
What I loved most was the way the play enfolds. First we are shown the so called successful women of the past and some reflection of their life and characteristics in Marlene. Then we see the amazing transition of every career woman's idol changing into a social hazard, a woman who had abandoned family for work. The structure of the play is by far its most prominent feature, also it is very well planned and based on an ingenious idea.
By making time a rather ambiguous entity in the play, not only is Churchill able to add a further dimention to her play's historical and fantastical characters, she is also able to make the problems discussed universal. Her characters who all seem to merge into one canvas from different times: may it be a seperation of few months or a few centuries, they all seem to be raising the same issue.
It seems as if society in Churchill's play is like a person who is clothed differently with the passing time. Deep down the core of the matters is the same but the covering, the upper layers are changed.
Another interesting factor that exists in the play is the idea of mothers and their children. There seems to be a chasm seperating the two in the play, perhaps a factor resulting from the alienation that Marlene has subjected herself regarding her daughter. All women seem to mourn the idea of losing their children, not the fact that the said child is lost. They don't seem to have the deep rooted love that a child has the right to expect from its mother. Nor do they give them much recognition as people. What appears to be missed by the women in the first act is the fact that they have lost something that they should not have lost. Even Griselda seems to love her children because that is the proper way of things to be done. She does not talk of her children as human individuals but as possessions, something with which her husband had the right to do what he willed.
One thing, however, left a bad taste in my mouth. The last argument between Marlene and Joyce regarding class differences and politics, somehow turns into a childish brawl. I did not appreciate how Churchill could reduce these two characters in such a manner. I would have wanted a little more effort put into the writing of that argument, or even a little more imagination that that, which was used. Anyhow, that was only my opinion. I would like to carry on and read some more plays from Churchill. Perhaps even see one if life gives me the oppertunity to do so."
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