Hotel Sorrento
Major Essay
“Transformation and the Search for Truth in Hannie Rayson’s Hotel Sorrento.” Consider Rayson’s subtle treatment of the everyday as a means of exploring deeper realities.
‘At the core of this play is a family struggling with loyalty, loyalty to each other and loyalty to their own story.’
Dr Tess Brady
Hotel Sorrento, written by Hannie Rayson, is an analysis of human relationships within a family structure. The play encourages an ownership without the need to hide in the belief of not being good enough, and without the illusion that a superior group exists which is dominated by a minority. Rayson expresses these flaws and faults that are present in human existence through her portrayal of the unpredictable nature of a family. She emphasises a family's capacity to postpone the settling of conflicts and stresses the idea that Australians are unable to express passion. The play attempts to articulate an Australian identity and suggests that the experience of living elsewhere alters a person’s perception of home. The main themes and ideas are loyalty, betrayal and truth from the perspective of an expatriate, Meg, and examines to what degree should we criticise or accept the faults of our country and of our loved ones. (Australianplays.org)
Rayson was born in Melbourne, Victoria and graduated from the University of Melbourne and the Victorian College of Arts. She was a freelance journalist and editor in addition to her primary career as playwright and screenwriter. Rayson was the co-founder Theatreworks in Melbourne's eastern suburb of St. Kilda, working there for four years while writing. Rayson has been writer-in-residence at Geelong's Mill Theatre, and Monash University.
Recognised as one of Australia's most significant playwrights, Rayson's first major success was Hotel Sorrento, which won several prizes including the Australian Writers Guild Award. The play has become an Australian classic, regularly performed by regional theatre groups, and
“Transformation and the Search for Truth in Hannie Rayson’s Hotel Sorrento.” Consider Rayson’s subtle treatment of the everyday as a means of exploring deeper realities.
‘At the core of this play is a family struggling with loyalty, loyalty to each other and loyalty to their own story.’
Dr Tess Brady
Hotel Sorrento, written by Hannie Rayson, is an analysis of human relationships within a family structure. The play encourages an ownership without the need to hide in the belief of not being good enough, and without the illusion that a superior group exists which is dominated by a minority. Rayson expresses these flaws and faults that are present in human existence through her portrayal of the unpredictable nature of a family. She emphasises a family's capacity to postpone the settling of conflicts and stresses the idea that Australians are unable to express passion. The play attempts to articulate an Australian identity and suggests that the experience of living elsewhere alters a person’s perception of home. The main themes and ideas are loyalty, betrayal and truth from the perspective of an expatriate, Meg, and examines to what degree should we criticise or accept the faults of our country and of our loved ones. (Australianplays.org)
Rayson was born in Melbourne, Victoria and graduated from the University of Melbourne and the Victorian College of Arts. She was a freelance journalist and editor in addition to her primary career as playwright and screenwriter. Rayson was the co-founder Theatreworks in Melbourne's eastern suburb of St. Kilda, working there for four years while writing. Rayson has been writer-in-residence at Geelong's Mill Theatre, and Monash University.
Recognised as one of Australia's most significant playwrights, Rayson's first major success was Hotel Sorrento, which won several prizes including the Australian Writers Guild Award. The play has become an Australian classic, regularly performed by regional theatre groups, and