The audience is left wondering how society can expect law and order when those whose job it is to enforce the law break it themselves on a regular basis. Such anti-authoritarian attitudes can be in some ways regarded as typically Australian. The Removalists express a number of attitudes about Australian society including those regarding police brutality and corruption, domestic violence, law and order, and anti-authoritarianism.
The majority of ideas presented about these are accurate representations of the attitudes held by most Australians and are very relevant, even today. If we have helped you, please help us fix his smile with your old essays The early English epic Beowulf is filled with a marvelous hero, ghastly villains, far off…. Tutor and Freelance Writer. Science Teacher and Lover of Essays. There are some very funny moments in the play - the removalist himself is the definition of comic relief - but as a play about sexual politics it is a very disturbing view.
In the words of Bob Dylan, "There ain't no limit to the amount of trouble women bring". This play is possibly most disturbing because we don't come away really hating any of the characters - it would be much less confronting if we could dislike the police more, for example.
Unlike some of his later plays it is not nearly as didactic as it could have been, and this is its greatest virtue. Every action in the play has a terrible logic and a sense of inevitability. And that is probably as good a definition of a great play as I can think of. So, yes, I would probably recommend it. Dec 15, Ben Thurley rated it it was ok. It's probably un-Australian, but I'm going to admit to not being a huge fan of The Removalists. The overt and covert violence in domestic and social relationships and in the very specific relationships between police and civilian is presented pretty starkly, there is exploration of issues of masculinity, dominance and control, but to my mind the power of these observations is undermined by a large element of psychological implausibility in the play, and the evacuation of any possible moral groun It's probably un-Australian, but I'm going to admit to not being a huge fan of The Removalists.
The overt and covert violence in domestic and social relationships and in the very specific relationships between police and civilian is presented pretty starkly, there is exploration of issues of masculinity, dominance and control, but to my mind the power of these observations is undermined by a large element of psychological implausibility in the play, and the evacuation of any possible moral grounding for any of the characters.
The story centres around two police officers, Ross and Simmonds, using a complaint about domestic violence being brought by sisters Fiona and Kate against Fiona's husband Kenny in the hope that this will result in an opportunity for the police officers to have sex with the women.
The complaint is distastefully presented itself as part of a scheme by the two sisters to gain access to some treasured furniture hence the involvement of the removalists of the play's title which makes a reader or viewer wonder whether we are being asked to question the sexist assumptions, or to go along with them as they key narrative driver of the play. And with the flirtation in the police station — itself I think psychologically implausible — it becomes clear that Williamson is prepared to have us see the sexist complaints about women that pervade the play are all — at least potentially — justifiable.
I also didn't find the descent into uncontrollable violence which ends with Kenny's death plausible either. The action is just too compressed for that. So, there's a dire energy in the aggressive and violent action and language, but the play just doesn't work for me as drama. View 2 comments. Oct 24, Cameron Drake rated it it was amazing. Highly eye opening and worth the read. Apr 09, Isabel Waterman rated it liked it. Jul 18, Stacey Roberts added it Shelves: english-lit-grad-dip.
This was so well-written it was painful to read. Oct 02, Luke McNamara rated it really liked it. Terrifying, shocking, and amazing. I watched it at a theatre too and its even more impactful when brought to life.
Still a good read though. Mar 23, Ella rated it it was amazing Shelves: plays-and-musicals , woah-dude-read-this. This play is absolutely appalling on so many levels, but it did leave me thinking Jul 07, Hex rated it did not like it.
It's an interesting short story but not my kind of book, I found myself just trying to get it over with quick It's an interesting short story but not my kind of book, I found myself just trying to get it over with quick Jan 29, Mak rated it did not like it.
Really creepy and a gross representation of Aussie s. Hard to read cause kinda graphic really. Aug 21, Lady Cronch rated it really liked it. The ordeal also shows how the female body is appropriated and objectified by the chauvinist male, something augmented by the deal agreed, sub-textually, by Simmonds and Kate: the police will help Fiona secretly move out of her abusive home, but only for sexual favours.
When Act Two begins, Fiona is packing. But Kenny comes home unexpectedly. Then the Removalist arrives. Then the police. Humiliated and disempowered, Kenny retaliates verbally. Which one was yours? The old fossil here? This ambivalence exemplifies the moral cowardice in society that sustains violence. Like Simmonds, Ross snaps when his insecurity is targeted, beating Kenny so savagely off-stage that Ross believes him dead.
As the panicked police strategise, Kenny drags himself back in. Simmonds cuts a deal: prostitutes in exchange for Kenny staying silent and not seeking damning medical treatment. As Simmonds and Kenny reconcile over a beer, Kenny dies. Authoritarianism is not the only social conditioning that prompts violence. Kenny enters in Act Two wanting sex and a steak.
Women are sex objects with carnal obligations to their husbands, but female sexuality, expressed any other way, is considered abhorrent. But its wider critique of violence — authoritarian and sexist — triggered by social conditioning, together with a sophisticated structure that leaves its audience uncomfortably tugged between realism and satire, grant it distinction.
He goes to great lengths to cure the husband's dirty- mouth and outpourings of crude vulgarity even if it means beating the defenceless man played delightfully by Martin Harris when tied up. He is the sort who has spent over twenty years in the force without ever directly putting himself in any danger. Comical relief comes in the form of an impatient Chris Haywood, who plays the whingeing, bludging Cockney removalist - anxious to get onto his next job. Filmed mostly in two locations - a police station and a flat - the story may sound dreary; anything but intriguing.
It may also sound dark and violent. The truth is it is utterly compelling. This is an ensemble cast that plays their respective parts almost without fault. The screenplay makes an easy transfer to the silver screen and is a worthy addition the varied vaults of Australian cinema history.
Details Edit. Release date October 16, Australia. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Margaret Fink Productions.
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