Updated mp3 new recording made yesterday Feb 2
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What would it be like to be placed in an institution, knowing you really are okay, The Changeling or Girl Interrupted would be good examples.
SEACLIFF: DEMISE OF WARD 5 Synopsis
On December 8th 1942, Ward 5 (the Simla ward) of Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, near Dunedin, burnt down.
37 of the 39 female patients inside the ward, perished.
Seacliff: Demise of Ward 5 is a play musical which intertwines a fictional story of the lives of some of the patients of Simla, and the factual events of the tragic fire.
Controversial issues of the types of treatment used in Asylums during the period are addressed in this musical.
The lead character, a young woman named Grace Sutton, is committed into Seacliff by her husband, after being found guilty of murdering their daughter.
Grace; a reserved woman, still reeling from the aftermath of her daughters death, slowly finds herself becoming stronger than ever in a place that seems the least likely of anywhere to find any form of solace; aided by her new found relationships with fellow patients, and a young guard named Willem Lucas.
The play, set over the course of two months, builds to the night of the fire.
The playwright aims to tell of a fictional tale, built on love, hardships and heroism, and most importantly, to raise awareness of the real story of one of New Zealands most terrible and suppressed tragedies
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REBECCA
Im not sick I swear
Even though theres a lizard
Crawling round in my brain
And its causing me pain
Im not sick I swear
(Her head falls clumsily.)
(Agnes puts a gentle hand on Rebeccas shoulder.)
AGNES
I'm not sick I swear
Its a reflex, cant you see?
When I shake uncontrollably
And I fall off my chair
I'm not sick I swear
(TE PAIA MANIAPOTO enters, looking smug.)
[The other women sneer at her as she walks in front of them.)
TE PAIA
I'm not sick I swear
It not stuff in my head
I'm just born to be bad
FOUR WOMEN
Shes not sick she swears
(TE PAIA looks annoyed at the interruption of her moment of significance and storms off.)
(SPOT ON WENDY.)
WENDY
I'm not sick I swear
Even though I see blood in my dreams
And it makes me scream
I'm not sick I swear
(LUCILLE busts out front, bringing life and power to the song.)
LUCILLE [Singing]
Just because I see fairies and angels
I'm a spiritual gal;
Doesn't mean I belong locked up in a cell
I'm not sick I swear
I'm not sick I swear
I swear I swear
(A female chorus of fifteen enters on stage.)
FULL LIGHTS.
CHORUS [Singing]
Not sick not sick we swear
Not sick not sick we swear
We adhere
We're not sick
LUCILLE
We swear
(Lucille's final note concludes.)
[END SONG]
LIGHTS OUT.
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