Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Under the Direction of Neil Armfield , the drama Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, written by Ray Lawler, was performed at the Playhouse Theatre on Wednesday 22nd February 2012. The play has effectively been produced in the style of realism to convey dramatic meaning. This was achieved by Armfield's manipulation of the dramatic elements:. symbol, tension and relationships.

In the play Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, symbols were used in various ways to convey dramatic meaning of transition and change in a realistic context. The "dolls" existed in the play to represent each year Olive and Roo spent 5 months together. However, the "17th doll" symbolised much more than a simple summer. The symbolic act of Roo destroying the doll, after an argument with Olive, highlights the fact that change is inevitable in their relationship. Once Roo aggressively and violently shattered the doll (which symbolised there love for each other), that there was no way of going back. This is how it relates to the theme of transition and change. Another symbolic element was the use of beer, which, for the audience, reflected the gathering of characters . Once they cracked open a bottle of beer, its symbolised and created dramatic meaning to either relax and try to enjoy themselves when they were in a stressful moment, or to symbolise a happy pleasurable time for the characters to enjoy and party. When they announced on opening a bottle of beer, the characters were either stressed or in the mood for partying. By having beer when stressed. Reflected to the audience that beer was a mental block to stop transition. They had beer to calm and relax themselves. The window symbolised society and society's expectations for gender roles. Whenever the characters shut the window they didn't want society to know about what they were discussing Due to them discussing a topic that didn't conform in society in the 1950's., for example Pearl closed the window when she first confronted barney about what his situation was with his kids. Due to them discussing a topic that didn't conform in society in the 1950's. . At the time when wind blew from the window, it was at the stage where conflict was surging and happening between characters. For example, when Roo and Olive where discussing the downfall of their relationship. This proved to the audience that conflict was occurring.

In the play, relationships are central to the dramatic action. Relationships were shown between characters, ideas, environment. Throughout the play the audience has been shown the transition and changes within the character's, in the play. The characters Olive and Roo, displayed their love for each other during the start of their next 5 months together. This however, changes to anger and sadness through their arguments are fights. Their relationship is realistic because of their natural behaviours that occur in most relationships e.g. fighting. Olive, didn't want their relationship to change because in her eyes, the last 17 years were perfect. Their relationship ended up in chaotic disaster due to conflict of Roo's future with her. Barney and Pearls relationship changed through out the duration of this play. In the beginning,