Emerald City

by David Williamson, Robyn Nevin (Reading), Ivar Kants (Reading)

Sharp-edged, satirical and accusatory, Emerald City lays into the materialism of the 1980s with a razor-sharp wit. Emerald City is a 1987 play by Australian playwright David Williamson, a satire about two entertainment industries – film and publishing. Part love letter, part hate mail to the harbour city, Emerald City is one of the best works by Australian theatre’s most beloved craftsman and commentator, David Williamson. A fast-moving, wisecracking commentary on contemporary urban mores and morals, and the rivalries and passions to be encountered on the road to success. Married couple Colin, a screenwriter, and Kate, a publisher, move to the Emerald City where fame and fortune are there for the taking, but surprises are in store for them both. 'Emerald City sparkles like Sydney Harbour on a sunny day.'
Timeout Sydney 'It’s Williamson at his sharpest and it’s often deftly funny ... his observations on Australia’s cultural cringe and the tensions our artists face ring true.'
Daily Review, Crikey

Genres: Plays

Audio CD

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

David Williamson AO gained a Bachelor of Engineering at Monash University in 1965 before briefly working as a design engineer at General Motors Holden and in 1966 he began lecturing in thermodynamics and social psychology at Swinburne Technical College.

Mr Williamson began writing and performing plays in 1968 with La Mama Theatre Company.

The Removalists and Don's Party established him as Australia's best-known playwright and established his reputation overseas on the stages of Europe and America.

His success in films is notable, having written the screenplays to Don's Party (1976), The Club (1980) and Phar Lap (1982), as well as collaborating with Peter Weir to make Gallipoli (1980) and The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). Over 30 years, his work has encompassed more than 36 plays and numerous films and television productions.

Mr Williamson has won four AFI awards and the Australian Writers' Guild AWGIE award 11 times. He has received honorary doctorates of Literature from the University of Sydney (1988), Monash University (1990), Swinburne University of Technology (1996) and the University of Queensland (2004).

Reviews

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to this play and David Williamson's work, by a production at Toronto Free Theatre in the early 90s (roughly). I read the play after the author made an appearance at the International Festival of Authors.

It revolves around the film industry and the compromises people make to live in that world. It's funny and biting and while there's references out of the time it was written in the late 80s, the world and its characters still resonate today.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Williamson's Emerald City is a play for a cast of six people and explores rivalry, ethics, morals, relationships as the characters strive to achieve their idea of success by using the film and publishing industry as the backdrop. The play is constructed in a way that the changes between scenes are seamless, the dialogue is snappy with a great mix of humour and sarcasm.

[Keith Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a classic and I had never read this until now. It's still pretty relevant. I think some of the themes are a bit on the nose at least in the beginning. The arc of the story actually shows that none of the characters in the play is really exempt from corruption so it becomes much more interesting towards the end.

[Rozanna Lilley]

I joined a play reading group run through the local library. I'm not sure Emerald City has aged well. I laughed a few times; I winced a few times. One bloke in the reading group really enjoyed the Sydney/Melbourne divide dialogue.

[Ranjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant satirical play

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s fine! like the play is well done and satirical in a well done way. nothing mind shattering but it was fun to read in the same way making ironic jokes about politics is

[erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate men

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

pithy surprisingly savage in parts and worth a look