Premise
"An imaginary weather station on Maundy Island in the Antarctic is the setting... The cast consists of three men — Donkin (Barrie Cookson) and Aaronson (Gordon Glen wright), weather observers, and a paranoiac, illiterate roustabout Matty (Ron Whelan). Matty, though ignorant, is physically stronger than the two weather observers. When his drunkenness is blamed for the party not being able to board the relief ship for Melbourne, his insanity and class hatred combine to make him a murderer. He kills Aaronson by cunningly fixing a fuel stove, then he decides to rule the weather station. He insists Donkin call him God."Original cast
* Ron Whelan as Mattie *Gordon Glenwright as Aaronson *Barrie Cookson as DonkinReception
The ''Daily Telegraph'' wrote that Workman had "pulled no punches in providing a brutal plot and the play's three equally violent characters. But Mr. Workman is by profession a radio writer, well known for his action-packed suspense thrillers. To some extent, he has unwisely used much of his radio technique in this stage production." The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' called the play "shrill, raw, and vehement, overstated and overlong, unhelped by the absence of relaxed and gentle moods, so that the unrelenting violence of the wrangling becomes a little palting at times - but, for all that, Mr Workman keeps shrewd control of his suspense, and draws three very formidable characters despite the way all of them occasionally lapse into uncharacteristic talk." The ''Daily Mirror'' felt the play "was weighted down with action and violence, and the dialogue rarely got above the level of the average radio commercial serial." ''The Bulletin'' called the play "a first-rate opportunity for tight-as-a-drumhead drama, and the cast... go at it hammer-and-tongues."''Cold Fury''
The play was adapted for British television as ''Cold Fury'' The ''Liverpool Daily Post'' said it "gripped the attention." "Must be British television's first Grand guignol" wrote the ''Daily Telegraph''.References
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