John Naish The Maoris. [Manuscript] (Unpublished)
The Maoris by John Naish. © Dr. Lee Naish, Digital version 2022.
Copyright protected. Not for download, reuse or distribution.
- Work By
- Author: John Naish
- Item Type
- Manuscript
- Collection
- Library Archives
- Series
- John Naish plays
- Location
- Townsville Campus Library
- Item Code
- JN/1/9
- Related Links
- Subjects
- theatre; plays; drama
Summary
In The Maoris cane cutter Jeff Craig mourns the loss of the single life, the "old times" and feels entrapped by marriage, children and responsibility, the life of the "maori" [married life]. Craig suspects his wife Betty and brash fellow cane cutter Mark Westcott of mocking him behind his back because Craig married Betty when she was pregnant with Wescott's baby. Mark as a result, continues to live the free 'singalese' life. Meanwhile, Craig has a double hernia and refuses to go to a doctor because he fears letting the gang down and losing his retention money (the money held back as incentive to finish the season). The Maoris won the Far North Queensland Amateur Theatrical Association Playwriting Competition of 1962. It was described as a deceptively simple play, with a taut and alive dialogue. The role of the female lead, Betty, was said to be an attractive if challenging one.
Additional Information
Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui is an historian and historical consultant. She graduated from James Cook University with an Honours degree and PhD in history and is an Adjunct Lecturer at JCU. She researches the sugar industry and migration history of tropical north Queensland, and her first book, published by JCU, Gentlemen of the Flashing Blade married those two themes. She also has a keen interest in the history of the Herbert River district where she has lived since her marriage. At present she is researching the role of women in various episodes of North Queensland history, while also continuing to research and write about John Naish.
Copyright Information
© Dr. Lee Naish, Digital version 2022.
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