Overview
Synopsis
Set in late-1960s Australia, three families embark on life-changing vacations in Michael Gow’s classic play, Away. Gwen is determined to have a perfect holiday with her husband, Jim, and daughter, Meg, driving them--and herself--crazy as she worries about Meg’s increasing independence. Harry and Vic want to share a happy memory with their son, Tom, who is dying of leukemia; though his parents have tried to keep his terminal diagnosis a secret, Tom already knows the truth of his fate. Roy’s marriage is near to collapsing as his wife, Coral, loses herself to inconsolable grief in the wake of their son’s death in the Vietnam War. Though each family sets out for a different destination, they are all thrown together after a torrential storm brings them to the same beach on the Gold Coast. They confront grief, loss, and letting go as each struggles towards reconciliation, acceptance, and eventual healing.
Show Information
- Book
- Michael Gow
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1986
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Holiday destinations on Australia’s Gold Coast. 1968.
- Cast Size
- medium
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Late Teen, Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Male |
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Supporting |
Either Gender |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Featured |
Either Gender |
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Featured |
Female |
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Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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