AustLit

Pumelo is promised by her father in marriage to the evil Lord Ku, but her heart belongs to a lowly insect peddlar, Kung, who visits every day. Chi Lin is the marriage broker responsible for arranging the match, but he knows of Lord Ku's character, and when he discovers Pumelo's and Kung's plan to elope he offers them his service instead. Kung then reveals to Pumelo that he is fact the famous artist Wang Yo Sen, and the two make their escape with the aid of Chi Lin. Lord Ku, finding his plans thwarted, invokes the evil Fox Goddess to curse Wang Yo Sen's art.

Chi Lin and Susu, Pumelo's faithful servant, follow the couple to their house in the mountains. Unbeknownst to them all, the house is in fact the home of a Fox Woman and has been picked out for them by Lord Ku. In the presence of that evil house, Wang Yo Sen's painting becomes corrupted by the image of the Fox Woman; an image that eventually comes to life and summons the artist away in the grips of madness. Pumelo is left distraught.

A year passes and Pumelo, Susu and Chi Lin have been searching all of China for Wang Yo Sen without success. Lord Ku attempts to entice Pumelo back to him, but she refuses to give up hope of finding her husband. She sets out once again, and after many more years of journeying, Pumelo arrives as a wraith-like traveller at a distant Inn. She is joined there by Susu and Chi, who have followed her secretly as her guardians, with Lord Ku fast on their tail. While Susu, on the subtle suggestion of the Inn maid, leaves to seek out the local hermit, Chi Lin duels and finally vanquishes Lord Ku. Susu returns with the hermit, Wang Yo Sen himself, whose sanity was returned to him upon the death of Lord Ku. Wang Yo Sen and Pumelo are happily reunited.

Characters

SHEN LO – A merchant

LORD KU – Who seeks to marry Shen Lo's daughter

ESCORT – To Lord Ku

KUNG – The insect peddlar, who is also Wang Yo Sen, the artist

CHI LIN – Friend and neighbour of Shen Lo

PUMELO – Shen Lo's daughter

SUSU – A maid in Shen Lo's house

THE FOX WOMAN – An evil person

THE FOX GODDESS – Can be played by the same person as the Fox Woman

INN KEEPER

INN MAID

This play is based on the life of Colonel William Light, the first surveyor-General of South Australia. When the action takes place, Light has arrived in South Australia to find that his surveying equipment and staff are not up to the huge task before him. Tempers rise in the colony when immigrants arrive to find that the land they purchased has not yet been surveyed. Light’s antagonist, John Hindmarsh, is determined to compromise Light’s career. Amongst the jealousy and anger, Light finds comfort in a young woman named Linda Manners. Awake My Love depicts the struggle of an honest, admirable man against the unrelenting torments of rivals, heartbreak, illness, and misfortune.

Characters

COLONEL WILLIAM LIGHT

GOVERNOR HINDMARSH

MRS. ORCHARD

MR. ORCHARD

AMELIA ORCHARD

MRS. MANNERS

MR. MANNERS

LINDA MANNERS

TRAVERS FINNISS

DIXON - MANNER'S HOUSEKEEPER

MARIA - LIGHT'S HOUSEKEEPER

STEVENSON

GILLES

HERBERT

ALGERNON