A Taste Of Honey
By Shelagh Delaney
SNT 1.10.1977
John Halstead/Annette Robertson/Meg Johnson/Ronald Baddiley
256K
A Taste of Honey is the first play by the British dramatist Shelagh Delaney, written when she was 18. It was initially intended as a novel, but she turned it into a play because she hoped to revitalise British theatre and to address social issues that she felt were not being presented. The play was first produced by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop and was premiered at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, a small fringe theatre in London, on 27 May 1958. The production then transferred to the larger Wyndham's Theatre in the West End on 10 February 1959. The play was adapted into an award-winning film of the same title in 1961.
A Taste of Honey is set in Salford in northwestern England in the 1950s. It tells the story of Jo, a seventeen-year-old working class girl, and her mother, Helen, who is presented as crude and sexually indiscriminate. Helen leaves Jo alone in their new flat after she begins a relationship with Peter, a rich lover who is younger than her. At the same time Jo begins a romantic relationship with Jimmy, a black sailor. He proposes marriage but then goes to sea, leaving Jo pregnant and alone. She finds lodgings with a homosexual acquaintance, Geoffrey, who assumes the role of surrogate father. Helen returns after leaving her lover and the future of Jo's new home is put into question.
A Taste of Honey comments on, and puts into question, class, race, gender and sexual orientation in mid-twentieth century Britain. It became known as a "kitchen sink" play, part of a genre revolutionising British theatre at the time.
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Another find you are working hard at this for all our enjoyment
Paul
Thanks for offering this - looks good !
Hey, Rick:
A quick "blanket thanks" for all you do here. I think I have about thirty new plays to review, all of which were downloaded for me while I was in NY. Although I will be spending my few days home in different pursuits, I shall start the listening on the plane back to NY.
Thanks again
Bob
On the plane? I thought you lived in NY. Please title your response "Dear Confused" LOL ------------ Rick
Dear "Confused"
I live near hot-lanta, Jawjuh
I consider myself a displaced New Yorker.
I am also a displaced New Yorker and live near Spartanburg SC. We are only a few hours apart here in the land of Hush Puppies and Chit-lins. I know you are heading back to the Big Apple, so Y-all Come back now ya he-a. -------------------------- Rick
Thanks