Shocking
IVEN a tacit acceptance, on the listener’s part, of the plausibility of the central theme, the play entitled "Will You Make a Bet With Death?" was one of the most shocking shockers imaginable. I doubt, however, if any ordinary and likeable young man (the hero was both) would, even for a sizeable sum of money, make such a bet as here supposed. In short, the youth’s uncle undertakes to provide him with
a fortune, if in return, over a long period, he allows the uncle the opportunity of killing him off; the money is his if he manages to remain alive until a set date. The mental and physical results of the acceptance of this wager are appalling. Methods of attempted murder by uncle (dear old gentleman) are.tarantulas sent through the post, poisoned razor-blades sewn into bookcovers, and similar niceties: The denouement I spare you, in case you ever hear this-play, which is as gruesome a little gem as you could wish-provided, of course, that you accept the premiss.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19461227.2.26.4
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 392, 27 December 1946, Page 12
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170Shocking New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 392, 27 December 1946, Page 12
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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