AN AFTERNOON ON THE BEACH

Title: AN AFTERNOON ON THE BEACH

Author: Donn Byrne

Publisher: Penguin Readers READERS Level:3

Summary:

This is a play, composed of three scenes.

In the first scene, we learn that Mr and Mrs Brown, Mary, John, and "Granny" are at the beach. They find a place near the cliffs. They put Granny's chair in the sun, but she prefers to stay away from it. She wants to have a rest and ready her book. They don’t listen to her. The children want to see a cave, and the family leaves Granny alone. While they are away, Granny moves the chair and hides behind a big rock. She falls asleep.

The second scene shows the family in the cave. It is dark, so they use matches to see. The children want to go to the back of the cave. It is dangereous because the sea is coming in. John falls into the water and drops the box of matches. They decide to go back to the beach.

In the third scene, the family is now back near the beach. They can’t see Granny. She is not where they left her earlier. Everyone is traumatized and Mrs Brown is crying but the children soon start laughing. As they went to take the baskets, they found Granny sleeping in her chair. Mrs Brown gets angry at Granny, who proposes some tea. (words 213)

Evaluation: stars 3

At first, this is a play telling an ordinary story, although we can feel that something is going to happen to Granny. The author leaves some clues, such as « the sea is coming in » and the fact that Granny is left alone on the beach. If Mrs Brown had listened to Granny in the first place, she wouldn’t have feared for her safety. When she finds out thet Granny is alive, she is angry at her. This is a common reaction, but it means that she is relieved. Old people still have the right to be heard. (words 99)