‘Dear Venus’, described by Deniliquin’s U3A Play Readers as ‘very funny’, was chosen by Keith and Heather for our September/October play reading. An Australian play written by Glen Wilson, it was first performed at the Clayton Civic Centre in 1983.
Set in the family room/kitchen of Benji Smith’s house on his cut-flower farm at Cranbourne, Victoria, it features Benji along with a space-ship/UFO; Venus or R-U 146, a beautiful space traveller; Mrs Pinacelli (Benji’s Part Time Housekeeper) and her contractor husband Tony, amongst others. It could be described as ‘Dimboola’ meets ‘I Dream of Jeannie’!
We suspended belief as we read that a UFO had been seen near, and had in fact landed, on Benji’s market garden in Cranbourne, containing Venus R-U 146 and her beautiful companion robot Emmy or M-E.
It is proving to be an intriguing play which evokes memories of Victoria in the 70’s – of fear and fascination with UFO’s and robots; of relationships between now well established Italian migrants and their Australian born neighbours and workmates, and more.
Next session we will read the final act. As this is quite short, we agreed that we will add a ‘poetry reading' – each person will bring along and read a poem which has meaning to them to the group.
Bev Lee and Jenny Sawyer
Set in the family room/kitchen of Benji Smith’s house on his cut-flower farm at Cranbourne, Victoria, it features Benji along with a space-ship/UFO; Venus or R-U 146, a beautiful space traveller; Mrs Pinacelli (Benji’s Part Time Housekeeper) and her contractor husband Tony, amongst others. It could be described as ‘Dimboola’ meets ‘I Dream of Jeannie’!
We suspended belief as we read that a UFO had been seen near, and had in fact landed, on Benji’s market garden in Cranbourne, containing Venus R-U 146 and her beautiful companion robot Emmy or M-E.
It is proving to be an intriguing play which evokes memories of Victoria in the 70’s – of fear and fascination with UFO’s and robots; of relationships between now well established Italian migrants and their Australian born neighbours and workmates, and more.
Next session we will read the final act. As this is quite short, we agreed that we will add a ‘poetry reading' – each person will bring along and read a poem which has meaning to them to the group.
Bev Lee and Jenny Sawyer
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