''Shipwreck'' is a 1949 Australian verse drama by

Douglas Stewart Douglas Stewart may refer to: *Douglas Stewart (poet) (1913–1985), Australian poet * Edward Askew Sothern (1826–1881), English actor who was sometimes known as Douglas Stewart * Douglas Stewart (equestrian) (1913–1991), British Olympic equestr ...

about the Batavian Mutiny. Leslie Rees felt the play was "disappointing in that it is a drama of tempestuous vigour rather than of true power. It is hair-raisingly startling rather than poetically elevating." Rees did think "The construction and organic development are extremely well handled. The characters are clear and distinct. But for the most part they are extremely unpleasant."

Plot

A ship is wrecked on the West Australian coast. The play starts after the shipwreck, with over 300 people on an island. They include Lucretia, her husband Van Mylen, the captain Pelsart, a pastor, Sebastian, his daughter Judith and Pelsart's butler, Henyrock. The men are restless. Pelsart decides to return to Batavia, against advice, and also sends some men led by Hays to find water. In the absence of Pelsart and Hays, some of the men, led by Cornelius, lead a revolt. They steal gold, massacre men, and keep women as sex slaves. Cornelius takes Lucretia after her husband is murdered, although he waits for a time. A mutineer Huyssen taunts Sebastian and the pastor kills him and his killed in turn. Hays returns and defeats the mutineers. Pelsart returns and executes Cornelius and other mutineers. He falls dead of a heart attack before Cornelius is taken away. Hay returns to Batavia with the survivors including Lucretia.

Book

The play was published in 1947.

Theatre productions

The play was produced at the Metropolitan Theatre at St Laurence Hall, Sydney in September 1949. It was done at the Little Theatre, Melbourne, 1951. ''The Age'' called it "the most successful and ambitious essay in drama by an Australian". The play was shown at the Union Theatre in Sydney in 1962 as part of a series of three new Australian plays under the auspices of the

Elizabethan Theatre Trust The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust (AETT) is an Australian theatre and performing arts company based in Sydney established in 1954. It is today especially known for its music scholarship program. History The Australian Elizabethan Theatre ...

. The others were ''Naked Island'' by

Russell Braddon Russell Reading Braddon (25 January 1921 – 20 March 1995) was an Australian writer of novels, biographies and TV scripts. His chronicle of his four years as a prisoner of war, '' The Naked Island'', sold more than a million copies. Braddon ...

and '' The Break'' by Philip Albright. Critical reception was poor.

Radio adaptations

The play was adapted for ABC radio in 1966 and 1973.

References

{{reflist 1962 plays 1940s Australian plays 1960s Australian radio dramas Plays by Douglas Stewart Plays set in Western Australia Plays set in colonial Australia Australian verse dramas Australian plays presented by the Elizabethan Theatre Trust Australian radio dramas based on actual events Australian radio dramas about explorers Australian radio dramas set in Western Australia Australian radio dramas that have been published