Webs of Our Weaving
Genrefantasy drama
Running time60 mins (8:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Country of originAustralia
Language(s)English
SyndicatesABC
StarringLyndall Barbour
Written byMusette Morell
Directed byFrank Harvey
Original release10 April 1945[1]

Webs of Our Weaving is a 1945 Australian radio play by Musette Morell. It is one of her most highly regarded radio plays.

The play was one of six Australian plays picked by the ABC to commemorate Australia's Jubilee in 1951.[2]

The play originally aired in April 1945 starring Lyndall Barbour and was repeated in June and November of that year.[3] It was produced again in March 1946,[4] September 1948,[5] January 1951[6] and December 1953.[7]

The 1951 production was "considered a memorial tribute" to Morell who died only a few months previously.[8]

The play was published in a 1948 collection of plays by Morell, Three Radio Plays.[9]

Leslie Rees called it "an engaging garden fantasy which is at the same time as firm in thematic purpose and as strong in message as a church or political tract. It is set in the spider world and tells of the first revolt of the male Epeira against the unholy but hitherto accepted tradition of being eaten by his female Arachne. The parable of evolution is at once clear but Miss Morell goes further in her symbolism, tacking on a pacifist, anti-war meaning and lesson. The nearest companion-piece is Capek’s Insect Play ; Miss Morell’s is a more single-minded conception, less discursive and decorative."[10]

Premise

According to ABC Weekly it was "a fantasy about the male spider that revolted against the time-honoured habit of being eaten by the female. It is a delightful story which has met with much success... The fable cloaks a much more serious meaning—it is a parable of evolution. The notion of garden spiders talking philosophically may, at first sight, seem strained, but the idea is treated with great tact, wit, good humour, and a smoothness that answers all doubts. The sights and sounds and subtle mystery of night in an Australian garden are evoked with spell-spinning feeling for words."[8]

References

  1. ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "OFFICIAL PROGRAMMES Spider Fantasy", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 7 No. 14 (7 April 1945)), nla.obj-1336735036, retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Trove
  2. ↑ "ABC Jubilee Productions of Radio Plays both Old and New". Trove. Vol. 12, no. 52. 30 December 1950. p. 26. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  3. ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "This week's A.B.C. PLAYS on the National programmes", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 7 No. 21 (26 May 1945)), nla.obj-1326851346, retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Trove
  4. ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "TUESDAY", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 8 No. 7 (2 March 1946)), nla.obj-1333656674, retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Trove
  5. ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "PLAYS YOU MUST HEAR", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 10 No. 39 (25 September 1948)), nla.obj-1431901839, retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Trove
  6. ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "Radio Plays for Next Week A.B. C. Jubilee Productions of Radio Plays Both Old and New", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 12 No. 52 (30 December 1950)), nla.obj-1536604651, retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Trove
  7. ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "RADIO PLAYS for NEXT WEEK A. B. C.", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 15 No. 49 (5 December 1953)), nla.obj-1549963297, retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Trove
  8. 1 2 Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "A.B.C. Radio Plays", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 13 No. 2 (13 January 1951)), nla.obj-1436645189, retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Trove
  9. ↑ "Other Publications". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CVII, no. 115. Tasmania, Australia. 24 July 1948. p. 8. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ Melbourne University Press. (1940), "DRAMA CHRONICLE", Meanjin papers., Brisbane: C. Christesen (Vol. 4 No. 3 (Spring 1945)), ISSN 1324-1737, nla.obj-3087908899, retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Trove
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