The following version of this play was used to create this study guide: Gow, Michael. Away. Currency Press PTY Ltd. Paddington, New South Wales, Australia. 1990 Reprint Edition. This award-winning play is structured in five acts, and follows the lives of several troubled characters through literal and psychological journeys into new perspectives, and new ways of moving forward in life.

The play begins with the concluding moments of a high-school performance of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Its Epilogue, spoken by the character Puck, is performed by Tom and the production’s Chorus of Fairies. After the curtain call, the school’s headmaster, Roy, comes out and speaks to the audience. Backstage, Tom offers his friend and co-star Meg a brooch as a “memento” (4). Their conversation is interrupted by Meg’s domineering mother Gwen and quiet father Jim, who then are joined by Tom’s friendly parents, Harry and Vic (Victoria). As the parents discuss the plans for their respective family holidays, the conversation is also joined by Roy and his clearly troubled wife, Coral. After the conversation breaks up, Roy finds Coral in the parking lot, and speaks sharply to her about her silent behavior.

Act Two is set in the homes of the three different families. Harry urges Tom to make sure that Vic believes he is having a good time during their holiday, their conversation hinting at recent family difficulties. Later, Vic asks Tom to do the same thing for Harry. Meanwhile, Gwen pushes Meg to get ready for their holiday more quickly, leading Meg to complain to Jim about how difficult it is to get along with her. Jim reminds Meg to remember the challenges that Gwen overcame while growing up, and in the early years of their marriage. Finally, Roy tells Coral that he needs her to start living her life again, their conversation revealing that their young son was recently killed while fighting in the Vietnam War.

Act Three takes place in two different vacation communities. The first is a higher-end hotel, in which Coral’s attempts to pull herself out of her shell lead to an awkward conversation with a woman named Leonie, and an unexpected conversation with a young man named Rick. The second is a caravan (RV) community, where Gwen insistently prepares for Christmas. When she is confronted by Meg about aspects of her behavior, an argument erupts and Gwen storms off. After she has gone, Jim and Meg are confronted with a group of politely insistent fellow campers, who present a list of things they want changed about the campsite. After they go, Jim rips up the list. Back at the hotel, Coral and Rick have an encounter that seems to be turning intimate, but they are interrupted by Roy, who threatens to lock Coral up because of her behavior. She retreats to her room, leaving Roy alone. There is a storm, which sends Jim and his family fleeing their trailer. After the storm, Harry and his family appear on the beach near their campground, making plans for the day.

Act Four takes place on the beach. Harry and his family have encountered Jim. Gwen is upset after the turn of events, but seems to be calmed down by Vic. Conversation between Harry and Jim, meanwhile, reveals that Tom is suffering from a cancer of the blood and does not have long to live. He also says that Tom does not know. In a later scene with Meg, however, Tom reveals that he does know, and that that is the main reason why he wants to spend time with her – and, in particular, to have sex with her. She is compassionate about his situation, but refuses to have sex. After she goes, Tom connects with Coral, and together they prepare a skit for the campground’s talent night. In front of the other campers / characters, Tom and Coral enact the story of a woman who is changed into a mermaid in order to be with the ghost of a sailor. When the sailor sees how unhappy she is, he wishes for her to be human again. As the skit ends, the character’s transformation triggers a similar transformation in Coral, and as Act Five begins, she and Roy reconcile. There are also reconciliations in the relationship between Gwen, Jim, and Meg.

Act Five, and the play, conclude with a scene that takes place outside Tom and Meg’s school. A teacher leads Tom’s class in a reading of the first scene of Shakespeare’s King Lear, with Tom speaking the speech of the elderly king.