"The 7 Stages of Grieving still speaks to us. Wise, honest, tender, funny and eloquent, this work for solo performer still packs a punch" - Australian Stage
The play, The 7 Stages of Grieving, was written by Deborah Mailman and Wesley Enoch. After 24 years, it is still as relevant and vital as ever in the fact that it conveys the grieving experienced by Aboriginals, thus the title. Directed by Jason Klarwein, this one-woman play starring Chenoa Deemal manages to convey dramatic meaning in its use of elements such as symbolism, space, costuming and technology. The play, in its episodic structure, goes through seven scenes, each of which relays some form of injustice experienced by Indigenous Australians. It is because of the many dramatic elements …show more content…
The episodic structure conveyed the different types of grieving experienced, as well as how often and how quickly said grieving can occur. For example, the multiple scenes showed that Indigenous Australians have gone through many hardships, and the reflective nature of particular parts aids in displaying that the pain and grieving is still present. Throughout the play, there was a concept of continuity in the fact that the idea of grieving was carried on despite the changing roles and situations. An example of said continuity is when the play begins with the actor talking about her personal grieving experiences, but by the end, she talks about topics that affect the entirety of the Aboriginal community. Edwards, 2008, mentions that, ‘One story is created from many, a universal theme is told through the personal experiences of one character’. This interrelatedness in terms of grieving also aided in creating tension, as each story seemed to build up more, and affect both the actor and the audience more prominently. Thus, it is evident that dramatic meaning was created simply by the play’s
The play, The 7 Stages of Grieving, was written by Deborah Mailman and Wesley Enoch. After 24 years, it is still as relevant and vital as ever in the fact that it conveys the grieving experienced by Aboriginals, thus the title. Directed by Jason Klarwein, this one-woman play starring Chenoa Deemal manages to convey dramatic meaning in its use of elements such as symbolism, space, costuming and technology. The play, in its episodic structure, goes through seven scenes, each of which relays some form of injustice experienced by Indigenous Australians. It is because of the many dramatic elements …show more content…
The episodic structure conveyed the different types of grieving experienced, as well as how often and how quickly said grieving can occur. For example, the multiple scenes showed that Indigenous Australians have gone through many hardships, and the reflective nature of particular parts aids in displaying that the pain and grieving is still present. Throughout the play, there was a concept of continuity in the fact that the idea of grieving was carried on despite the changing roles and situations. An example of said continuity is when the play begins with the actor talking about her personal grieving experiences, but by the end, she talks about topics that affect the entirety of the Aboriginal community. Edwards, 2008, mentions that, ‘One story is created from many, a universal theme is told through the personal experiences of one character’. This interrelatedness in terms of grieving also aided in creating tension, as each story seemed to build up more, and affect both the actor and the audience more prominently. Thus, it is evident that dramatic meaning was created simply by the play’s