Goodbye Melaleuca
By Mark Barkley
()
About this ebook
Do we “own” our children? Are they required to walk through the world to sing your praises? Artist Eric Corey has taken back a valuable painting that he once gave to his niece Jenny and her husband Alan. A line has been crossed that Eric cannot live with. A confrontation over custody of a work of art raises questions of the value of artistic integrity and explores “ownership” of those things we create.
“Goodbye Melaleuca” was shortlisted in the 1995 George Landen Dann Award. It was presented at Spotlight Theatre Company, Benowa, on June 7th, 1996.
Interview with the Author
Q - Why should I read a stage play?
A – I think a good story is a good story. I try to reach out on an emotional level. Most people find it engaging and easy to read. And a play is just a movie in your mind.
Q - What inspired you to write Goodbye Melaleuca?
A – Like my other plays, The Captains and The Kings, Sylvia Terry, A Kind of Belgium and even Spades, I am fascinated by the dynamics within the family and in this case the extended family. It involves an uncle and niece. This play primarily works with the concept of father and child, the adventure of the creator and the creation. There is an importance to the artist that his work must always sing the creator’s wishes. Once again, it involves drama, conflict, betrayal and lost love.
It’s told through three actors and it questions whether we own anything we create. What about our children? Do we really own them? Are they just a blank screen for their father or mother to project their lives on to? This has fascinated me. I don’t want to offer any answers. Just throw it up there for the reader.
Q - So, why should readers give this book a try?
A – It’s a very quick, tight, interesting little story. It’s an emotional journey.
Read more from Mark Barkley
The Captains and the Kings: A Play in Two Acts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Master of Boxes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpades: Short Film Script + Movie Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGoodbye Melaleuca Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Kind of Belgium Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Master of Boxes: A Dark Lord’s Guide to Modern Management Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhere The Black and Grey Wolves Kiss, Book Two: The Sabienn Feel Adventures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Two Men Who Kill To Be Carbon, Book Four: The Sabienn Feel Adventures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGuess What The Fish Sings To The Hook, Book Five: The Sabienn Feel Adventures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhen The Stone Shepherds Awaken, Book One: The Sabienn Feel Adventures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhy The Sister Moons Swallowed Rage, Book Three: The Sabienn Feel Adventures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLove, Life and The Old Stench of Luck Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Captains and The Kings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Big Sugar Election Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSylvia Terry Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Goodbye Melaleuca
Related ebooks
The Elephant Song Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Symbiotic Puppets Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Treatment (NHB Modern Plays) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRosaura has a ghost Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Broken Unicorn: A unicorn and a dog meet Eric and Enya Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Circle: A Comedy in Three Acts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Coin - Beware the Artist Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnne Severn and the Fieldings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Last Witch (NHB Modern Plays) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHuff & Stitch Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTyler Smiths: Prom's Night Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCaprock Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGhetto Girls 5: Tougher Than Dice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRun Sister Run (NHB Modern Plays) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlcatraz (NHB Modern Plays) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNevermind: The Last Temptation of Frank Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI, Daniel Blake (NHB Modern Plays) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTracing Invisible Threads Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Staying Alive (NHB Modern Plays) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ticket to Paris Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll The Way Back Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Serenaded by the Alien Vampire Rock Star Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGirl from the North Country (NHB Modern Plays) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Caged Bird Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSeparate Beds Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhen the Rain Stops Falling (NHB Modern Plays) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Switch Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Continuum Dealer: the Brethren Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDream Magic: Awakenings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFright Vault Volume 7: Fright Vault, #7 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Crime Thriller For You
The Kept Woman: A Will Trent Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone: A Murdery Mystery Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 120 Days of Sodom (Rediscovered Books): With linked Table of Contents Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Girl Who Was Taken: A Gripping Psychological Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One of Us Is Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Nurse: A gripping psychological thriller with a shocking twist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sydney Rye Mysteries Box Set Books 10-12: Sydney Rye Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummit Lake Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5False Witness: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Justine: Good Conduct Well Chastised Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Finn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5City on Fire: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Daughter: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Club: A Reese's Book Club Pick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silent Wife: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Butcher Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Notes on an Execution: An Edgar Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Widow: A Will Trent Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Razorblade Tears: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cain's jawbone Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The ABC Murders: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Forgotten: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blacktop Wasteland: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cleaning the Gold: A Jack Reacher and Will Trent Short Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Woman in the Library: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pieces of Her: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lucky Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Trust Me When I Lie: A True Crime-Inspired Thriller Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related categories
Reviews for Goodbye Melaleuca
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Goodbye Melaleuca - Mark Barkley
CAST LIST
Eric Corey 51 years : An artist
Jenny Telford 31 years : Eric’s niece
Alan Telford 33 years : Jenny’s husband
The action take’s place in Eric Corey’s artist studio. There are two chairs and an easel holding a painting covered by a sheet.
(A stark stage with two chairs and an easel, holding a painting covered by a sheet. ERIC sits as ALAN and JENNY enter.)
ERIC
Telford?
ALAN
You’re waiting for us?
ERIC
Why do you say that?
ALAN
The way you’re sitting.
ERIC
Is it of interest to you the way I sit?
ALAN
(Pause) Is this it? (Indicates painting)
ERIC
What?
ALAN
Is this it?
ERIC
Is this what?
ALAN
Is