Heretic is a 1996 play by Australian playwright

Playwright

A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...

 David Williamson

David Williamson

David Keith Williamson AO is one of Australia's best-known playwrights. He has also written screenplays and teleplays.-Biography:...

.

The play explores Derek Freeman's reaction to Margaret Mead's Coming of Age in Samoa

Coming of Age in Samoa

Coming of Age in Samoa is a book by American anthropologist Margaret Mead based upon her research and study of youth on the island of Ta'u in the Samoa Islands which primarily focused on adolescent girls. Mead was 23 years old when she carried out her field work in Samoa...

. The play takes place in Freeman's dream, where individuals (including Mead) from his life return and discuss his life.

The play was directed by STC director Wayne Harrison

Wayne Harrison

Wayne Harrison was a child and teenage star performing on stage and television, including performing in J.C. Williamsons' musicals...

 in 1996, and starred Elizabeth Alexander as Mead and Robyn Ramsey as Derek Freeman

Derek Freeman

John Derek Freeman was a New Zealand anthropologist best known for his criticism of Margaret Mead's work in Samoan society, as described in her 1928 ethnography Coming of Age in Samoa...

. However, after its opening night at Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...

, a row erupted between Williamson and Harrison about the director's interpretation of the play and almost overshadowed the play itself.