The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin
Encyclopedia
The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin is a "one-hander" play
by Australian playwright, author and singer Steve J. Spears
(1951 – 2007). It premiered at the Nimrod Theatre in Sydney, Australia in 1976, and has been cited as a high point of the career of highly respected Australian actor Gordon Chater
.
tutor based in the wealthy suburbs of Sydney's Inner North. The play begins with O'Brien walking on stage naked, describing the foibles of his students as he dresses. Revelations of his transvestitism and his obsession with a young, beautiful student, one "Benjamin Franklin" follow. He then reveals he is confined in a "mental institution
".
all his lines. He went to an elocution
teacher, "a sweetheart.. but a very eccentric sort of lady", who treated him like her other pupils, all children.
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by Australian playwright, author and singer Steve J. Spears
Steve J. Spears
Steve J. Spears was an Australian playwright, actor, writer and singer. His most famous work was The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin...
(1951 – 2007). It premiered at the Nimrod Theatre in Sydney, Australia in 1976, and has been cited as a high point of the career of highly respected Australian actor Gordon Chater
Gordon Chater
Gordon Chater was a comedian and actor.Chater attended Cambridge University to study to become a doctor but did not finish his degree. While at Cambridge he took part in many student revues.He arrived in Australia following World War II...
.
The play
A single actor plays "Robert O'Brien", an outwardly respectable elocutionElocution
Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone.-History:In Western classical rhetoric, elocution was one of the five core disciplines of pronunciation, which was the art of delivering speeches. Orators were trained not only on proper diction, but on the proper...
tutor based in the wealthy suburbs of Sydney's Inner North. The play begins with O'Brien walking on stage naked, describing the foibles of his students as he dresses. Revelations of his transvestitism and his obsession with a young, beautiful student, one "Benjamin Franklin" follow. He then reveals he is confined in a "mental institution
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
".
Premiere and reception
"Elocution" premiered at the Nimrod in 1976 with Gordon Chater playing O'Brien, and went on to become an international success, , touring three continents and winning international acclaim.Inspiration
Spears wrote that as a television actor in his twenties he was so nervous that he mumbledMumble
Mumble may refer to:* Mumble , main character from the film Happy Feet* Mumble , open source voice over IP client/server* Mumble Bumble, a Canadian children's animated television program* Mumbles, a headland in Swansea...
all his lines. He went to an elocution
Elocution
Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone.-History:In Western classical rhetoric, elocution was one of the five core disciplines of pronunciation, which was the art of delivering speeches. Orators were trained not only on proper diction, but on the proper...
teacher, "a sweetheart.. but a very eccentric sort of lady", who treated him like her other pupils, all children.
"Eventually... the thought struck me, I'll write a play about a female elocution teacher, and this poor snookSteve J. SpearsSteve J. Spears was an Australian playwright, actor, writer and singer. His most famous work was The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin...
about 25, sort of entrapped by this mad old lady... Then I decided to make it a bloke, a transvestite, and Benjamin happened."