On the Face of It
On the Face of It – Susan Hill Characters 1. Derry – A 14-year-old boy with one side of his face burnt by acid. 2. Mr. Lamb – An old man with a tin leg, who owns a beautiful garden. Setting The play is set in Mr Lamb’s garden, a calm and green place symbolising peace and acceptance. Derry enters the isolated garden by chance, which becomes a turning point in his life. Summary / Plot Overview 1. Derry enters the garden Derry enters cautiously into Mr Lamb’s garden. Mr Lamb surprises Derry by greeting him warmly and saying everyone is welcome in his garden. Derry plans to leave but is stopped by Mr Lamb’s friendly nature. 2. Derry’s fears and insecurities Derry explains that others are scared of him because of his burnt face. He feels isolated and unloved. Derry believes people find him ugly and often make him feel inferior. He even admits that he himself hates looking at his face in the mirror. 3. Mr Lamb’s acceptance and wi...