The Time is Not Yet Ripe by Louis Esson

Image taken from australianplays.org

This is a comedy that was written in 1912 by a talented man by the name of Louis Esson. It was first performed in Melbourne at the Athenaeum Hall, and was well received on its opening night. I came across this play when I was studying it for the Australian Theatre course I am doing at the moment, and I quite enjoyed reading it.

The play details the story of Doris, the daughter of the Prime Minister, an active member of the Liberal Party. Doris is betrothed to a man named Sydney Barrett, a socialist who poses a threat to the Prime Minister's party. At first, her father does not approve of the marriage, but begins to soften in the end after his party wins again in the election.

While the written text does not appear to be comical at first, the comedy becomes more apparent when the play is actually staged. Our class found this out when we performed excerpts from the play in our tutorial class. It is indeed a well-written play, and one that is worth looking into if you are interested in learning about early Australian Theatre.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Image taken from the 5th Grade Literacy Circles website.

Matilda Wormwood is a child prodigy, although her parents don't seem to care or notice. Her father runs a dodgy car sale business, while her mother is addicted to bingo. Her brother is hardly ever at home. While all three would prefer to sit in front of the television all night, Matilda prefers to read books. These are the circumstances we find her in as she attends her first day of school, where her teacher, Miss Wormwood, is the first person to notice how special Matilda really is....

OK. So I'm going through yet another childhood phase, but so what? Roald Dahl's books are amazing, as every child who has ever read them can tell you (as well as every adult who remembers growing up reading them). Packed with adventure, humour and fun, his books have entertained children and grown-ups alike. The new editions of his books that are coming out now all boast on the front cover that he is "The World's no. 1 Storyteller", a title that Roald Dahl very much deserves to have. It has now been over a decade since he has passed away, but his memory continues to live on through his books.

The new editions also come with interesting trivia facts about Roald Dahl and his life, giving children the chance to learn more about this great author. They also explain on the back cover that 10% of author royalties from the sales of his books are now being donated to Roald Dahl Charities, which cares for children with "epilepsy, blood disorders and acquired brain injury". So by purchasing the new editions, you are not only revisiting childhood memories, but you are also making a difference in other children's lives.......

..... Not that I'm trying to promote sales in any way..... :-P

Anyway, "Matilda" is one of those books that you MUST read, either BEFORE or AFTER seeing the film version starring Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito. Seriously. You should. It's very good.

More reviews on Roald Dahl's books to follow soon!