Honour

by Joanna Murray-Smith

Gus and Honor have been happily married for thirty-two years. She is a successful writer, he is a revered columnist. They have a perfect understanding of each other. Until a pushy young female journalist—on assignment to profile Gus—quite deliberately seeks to undermine that understanding. The fallout is dreadful—but beautifully and convincingly portrayed in all its painful consequences.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Theatre

96 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1995

About the author

Australian playwright.

Reviews

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

everyone was MESSY wow

[Emily Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent play, probably the best contemporary play I’ve read so far. It was about the divorce of a couple married for 32 years and you can see the point of view from all parties: husband, wife, new younger girlfriend and the daughter. The language was so beautiful, and made sense as the characters were all writers in the play. The story was told through a series of dialogue, there were no monologues (well one short one) and it was so interesting to see them go after each other and the different arguments. All the scenes were quite short which added to the fast pace and the idea that this sudden change of heart was completely out of the blue, but also gave the sense that a lot of time had passed and that the characters had gone away and processed a new part of this sudden change and came back in a completely different stage whether that was shock, anger, sadness, joy. Just a very gripping play. And as always… MEN SUCK. His wife gave up her writing career to be the perfect wife and she didn’t even see it like that because she loved him and wanted to do it, until he fucked everything up and just suddenly said I want passion with a 30yr old even though I’m 68. And it made me think about like… the Leo DiCaprio’s of the world and it showed that this might be how they actually think and delude themselves… so gross. And also the point of view of the daughter and how she was angry and both of them cause she felt they had both lied to her, one was deserting them and the other was allowing it. She did have one short monologue actually which was very good, it was spot on. But a very gripping excellently written play with great themes and analogies and just… I loved it! A very very quick read too.

[Kacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a fair few plays now with this being my first Aussie play and what a strong one to start off with. The writing is gorgeous and I kept going back and rereading parts. All the dialogue is beautifully crafted and so carefully curated. Love

[Lily Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRILLIANCE!!! THIS IS MY CUP OF TEA. RED STITCH I AM COMING 4 YOU

[cellh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this play in the midst of searching for a monologue. I really enjoyed the journey of the characters, I feel like things could have boiled over at points. However, the almost going through their days with them and casualness of the play was one of the enjoyable elements. The writing is really beautiful, I had to post-it notes certain writing to go back to. Definitely would love to see it on stage!

[Pauline Butcher Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see that reviewers include actors who've played in this drama and I can understand their enjoying it. As a reader, I raced through wanting to know what was going to happen, and it is skillfully turned - the husband has it all, a wife who loves him, and then a precocious young woman seduces him - then the wife turns from despair to evolve into her own woman, and the girlfriend - well, let's not spoil it. I found it too wordy and it did slow down 4/5ths of the way through just when it should have boiled over. But look at the accolades, so what do I know?
(Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa)

[Patrick Neylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The themes are love and sacrifice, with a successful writer giving up his wife for a younger woman, while the wife has given up her writing career to support him. A minor theme is the young woman, an aspiring writer, finding that he new love is happy to let his career peter out while she has burning ambitions, showing the mis-match in many old-young relationships.

Which of the two women will be unlucky enough to get stuck with the spineless, smug creep?

[Zoe Stanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

So staccato that in places it’s both mesmerising and migraine-inducing, Honour is a little too stylized for its dialogue to be completely realistic, but damn if it ain’t gorgeous. Absolutely fab little play!

[Jonah Dunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Idiosyncratic, perceptive telling of a familiar tale.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first play I ever stage managed, under the direction of the great Jean Stephens at Lawrenceville. A great experience. 4 person cast, all other seniors. We had glorious times.
Also a very good play! Our actors were wonderful and I was moved at the very first readthrough, leading me to believe it's actually quite a good play by itself. And Australian, I believe. I don't read enough Australian literature.
"It's all a little too pith helmet."

[Michael Burge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating characters pitted against one another in a story about a family which is suddenly attacked by change. Would love to see this onstage one day to understand the transitions better ... plays are meant to be seen not read, after all.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't stop gasping! The audacity of these characters esp Claudia and the fact that the daughter is so submissive to Claud but cruel to her mother. And that in the end it actually IS healthier for Honor to find herself again but the pain! Ugh.

[Kris]

Is it Joanna's writing? I feel like I have seen this, but don't know if it's the pattern & meter of other plays of her's that I've seen.
Not too be too harsh, but what a weak-willed pathetic excuse for a male lead! Yet fascinating family dynamics!

[Idiolalia]

Honour (PLAYS) by Joanna Murray-Smith (1995)

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

wish I could see this--clever: pairs of characters facing off addressing identity, change, love, honour.