Books
Jamila Gavin

Coram Boy (NHB Modern Plays)

A heartbreaking tale of orphans, angels, murder and music — dramatised from the Whitbread Award-winning novel set in 18th-century England.
Winner of the Time Out Live Award for Best Play
In 18th-century Gloucestershire, the evil Otis Gardner preys on unmarried mothers, promising to take their babies (and their money) to Thomas Coram's hospital for foundling children. Instead, he buries the babies and pockets the loot.
But Otis's downfall is set in train when his half-witted son Meshak falls in love with a young girl, Melissa, and rescues the unwanted son she has had with a disgraced aristocrat. The child is brought up in Coram's hospital, and proves to have inherited the startling musical gifts of his father — gifts that ultimately bring about his father's redemption and a heartbreaking family reunion.
'a rich and almost Gothic drama' — Philip Pullman
'a triumph… can still make your heart soar' — The Times
'the story has a gripping intensity… there is a tremendous sense of momentum' — Independent
'Family shows don't come much more harrowing than this — but nor do they come any finer… as gripping, terrifying, beautiful and moving as anything you will see in the theatre this year… Helen Edmundson's adaptation does full justice to the dark power of the original, while also transforming it into a thrilling piece of theatre' — Daily Telegraph
'a highly superior show that should appeal to adults and children alike' — Guardian
98 printed pages
Copyright owner
Bookwire
Original publication
2014
Publication year
2014
Have you already read it? How did you like it?
👍👎

Impressions

  • b1988783408shared an impression4 years ago
    👍Worth reading

Quotes

  • b1988783408has quoted4 years ago
    Sir.
    GADDARN. Do you know what I do to telltales? I cut out their
  • trindadebjhas quoted8 years ago
    DINER – dark-haired, in the prime of his life, he exudes charm and confidence. He has spread a white sail-cloth on the ground and on it he displays the pots and pans and tools which are his wares. A small crowd has gathered to look and buy. OTIS completes a sale and jumps up on the wagon.
    OTIS. Last chance! Last chance now for your pots and ladles, buckets, string, ribbons, thread, all your household needs! Last chance now! The ferry’s on its way! Grab it while you can, now!
    Two GIRLS pass by.
    GIRL 1. I can see something I wouldn’t mind grabbing.
    The other GIRL laughs.
    OTIS. Knives sharpened!
    They pick up some ribbons. OTIS homes in on them.
    Like the ribbons, do you, girls?
    GIRL 2. She likes everything you’ve got.
    OTIS. Glad to hear it. I aim to please.
    GIRL 2. I bet you do.
    OTIS hands them each a ribbon.
    OTIS. Let’s see now – Rose White . . . and Rose Red.
    The GIRLS giggl

On the bookshelves

fb2epub
Drag & drop your files (not more than 5 at once)