English Essay on the Play: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Essay Question: The situation, the characters, the capacity of the play to keep one guessing and the use of the vernacular are qualities which make 'Summer of the Seventeenth Doll' more than an ordinary play. Discuss.

An extraordinary play is where the play, via the actors, exchanges something and leaves and impression on the audience. 'Summer of the Seventeenth Doll' written by Ray Lawler tells about the struggle of how a group of midddle-aged adults, living in the '50s, have to cope with the realization that their youth is over, aging is inevitable and change is a season in life. It is written in a very austere, yet simple manner, truly mirroring the openness of the Australian character. Lawler cleverly combines the different qualities including written textual features such as the situation, the characters and the use of the vernacular to deepen the capacity of the play. Lawler uses all these qualities to force the audience to repond, to keep guessing, to tease their expectations...