Blood Relations: And Other Plays (Prairie Play)

This brand new edition features the plays that established Sharon Pollock as a major Canadian playwright and gained her many accolades, among them, the first ever Governor General's award for drama for 'Blood Relations' in 1981. In the four plays in this collection Pollock uses historical backdrops to tackle the issue of freedom of choice in the midst of physical and emotional confinement. Her characters are the oppressed, from the spinster Lizzie Borden in the title play, 'Blood Relations', to the prisoners of 'One Tiger to a Hill', to Leah, 'chosen' daughter/mistress of rum runner Mr Big in 'Whiskey Six Cadenza'. In 'Generations', she uses a regional setting of a prairie farm kitchen to examine the tensions and affections of a family, and their relationship to 'The Land'. Pollock's skilfully driven action and keen ear for dialect make for a satisfying read for drama- and fiction-lovers alike.