On the Face of It
by Susan Hill
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A one-act play on the theme of physical disability and the pain of loneliness. Derry, a young boy, has one side of his face badly burnt by acid; ashamed and bitter, he shuns people and believes no one will ever love him because of his 'terrible' face. He climbs over a wall into a garden and meets Mr Lamb, an old man with a tin leg, whom local children mockingly call 'Lamey-Lamb'. Unlike others, Mr Lamb does not pity or recoil from Derry; instead he talks cheerfully about bees, weeds, flowers and life, insisting that everything and everyone has value and that appearances do not matter, 'it's all relative'. His warmth and wisdom gradually draw Derry out of his shell, changing his outlook on himself and the world. Derry runs home to tell his mother he is going back to Mr Lamb, defying her fears. But when he returns, he finds that Mr Lamb has fallen from a ladder while picking apples and died. Derry, weeping, is left beside the old man's body, but Mr Lamb's message of courage and self-worth has already begun to transform him.
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The play explores the isolation and psychological pain caused by physical disability, and shows how warmth, acceptance and a positive outlook can heal a wounded spirit.
Derry's bitterness
Derry, a boy whose face is disfigured by an acid burn, is angry, withdrawn and bitter. He believes people are frightened or disgusted by his face and that no one, not even his mother, will ever truly love him. He avoids people and expects only pity or rejection.
Meeting Mr Lamb
Derry climbs into Mr Lamb's garden, expecting to be driven away. Instead, Mr Lamb, an old man with a tin leg whom children mock as 'Lamey-Lamb', welcomes him warmly and speaks openly and without pity. He too has a disability but bears it cheerfully, keeping his gate always open to everyone.
A new way of seeing
Mr Lamb talks about bees, weeds, flowers and books, insisting that nothing is ugly or useless and that appearances are 'all relative'. He tells Derry that what matters is what a person does and thinks, not how he looks. His acceptance and wisdom slowly open Derry's mind, giving him a new sense of hope and self-worth.
The tragic ending
Transformed by the meeting, Derry runs home and defiantly tells his mother he is returning to Mr Lamb to hear the rest of what he has to say. But when he comes back, he finds Mr Lamb has fallen from a ladder while picking apples and died. Derry weeps beside the body, yet Mr Lamb's message of courage and acceptance has already begun to change him for the better.