What If You Died Tomorrow? is a 1973 play written by David Williamson. It was commissioned by the Old Tote Theatre Company for its first drama season at the new Sydney Opera House.
Background The play has a number of autobiographical elements, being about a doctor turned novelist and journalist who have left their respective spouses to live in an artists colony. David Williamson was an engineer turned playwright who lived in an artists colony in Eltham with wife Kristin after both left their respective spouses.Kiernan p 120-122 Williamson's parents claimed the characters of the parents were based on them. It was Williamson's first play to deal with inter-generational conflicts on stage.
The original production was designed by Yoshi Tosa and directed by Robin Lovejoy.
Productions outside Australia The Old Tote production was performed in England in September 1974,Production details at AusStage making it the first full Australian production to have played in London since Summer of the Seventeenth Doll.Kiernan p 144 Proposed Film Adaptation In 1974 it was reported Williamson had written a screenplay version.
Characters On-stage: Andrew Collins, a doctor turned writer ... Shane Porteous Kirsty, a journalist, his lover ... Kirrily Nolan Harry Bustle, Andrew's publisher ... Max Phipps Michael O'Hearn, Andrew's agent, gay ... Ron Falk Carmel Scott, publishing editor at Chisholms, a competitor of Bustle, and Michael's friend ... Dinah Shearing Gunter (Graeme), Norwegian travelling with Ken and Irene after his fiancée left him, 21, all three returning from a cruise ... John Walton Irene Collins, Andrew's mother, has dyspareunia ... Ruth Cracknell Ken Collins, an insurance salesman, Andrew's father ... Ron Haddrick Sean, Sebastian, Emma, Kirsty's children
Mentioned: Miss Evans, Sean's teacher Dirty Dick, musician, Dirty Dick and the Yarra Valley Stompers Sue Nicholls, friend of Kirsty Kiffy Myers, friend of Kirsty Mrs. Harris, Sebastian's teacher Freddie Hubbard, writer who also works with Bustle Don Dunstan, a musician John, Kirsty's ex Alan Bustle, Harry's son Meredith Collins, Andrew's ex-wife Andrew's receptionist, 19, with whom he had an affair Robin and Mark Collins, Andrew and Meredith's children Edith Marshall, friend of Irene on the cruise ship Ronald Marshall, her son, from Alice Springs Brian, Carmel's lover Carmel's oldest son, caught her having sex with Brian Helen, character in Andrew's novel, whose role Bustle wants to cut down Morton Gould, character in Andrew's novel Jimmy Hogg, another writer for Bustle, bi, married to a woman but caught with a Royal Shakespeare Company actor Arna Bustle, Harry's wife May and Andrew, snobby friends of Irene who did not want her to marry Ken and would not attend Irene's father's funeral; Andrew's namesake Ship's doctor, Indian Di Calderstone, lived at the artist colony Mary Penfield and her husband, first to leave the artist colony Marcus, lived at the artist colony, supposedly had sex with Charlie's mare Charlie Griffiths, lived at the artist colony, tried to get a stallion to mount his mare
References
David Williamson. The Coming of Stork -- Jugglers Three -- What If You Died Tomorrow: Three Plays. Sydney: The Currency Press, Currency Methuen Drama Pty Ltd, London: Eyre Methuen, 1974. 0869370219 (paperbound), 0869370200 (clothbound)
Notes Kiernan, Brian, David Williamson: A Writer's Career, Currency Press, 1996
External links