The Stage

Our Country’s Good

Published Monday 17 March 2008 at 10:20 by Anne Hopper

Based on Thomas Keneally’s novel The Playmaker, Timberlake Wertenbaker’s play is a powerful and inspirational collection of scenes depicting the privations and subsequent suffering of both officers and convicts transported to Australia in 1789. It’s not without humour thanks to Stefan Escreet’s adroit handling of his talented cast and its outstanding ensemble work.

To the astonishment of the sometimes sadistic officers the Governor of the Penal Colony, Captain Phillips, played with great sensitivity by David Tarkenter, decrees that a theatrical company be formed and the convicts prepare to stage The Recruiting Officer, a Restoration comedy of manners. The young, decent Lieut. Clark, is given the job of producing the play and Kieran Buckeridge is thoroughly convincing as he battles both convicts and fellow officers. The rest of the cast play multiple roles, even swapping gender. Outstanding are Peter Rylands as the cruel Major Ross. Simeon Truby is a tortured Midshipman Brewer with Dennis Herdman providing much of the comedy as Robert Sideway. Maeve Larkin is at first hostile then very moving as the play’s leading lady, likely to be hanged before the opening night.

That theatre can be a force for change is a message that comes over loud and clear in a production stripped to the bare bones - minimalist staging, only necessary props, haunting, didgeridoo music - leaving the superb cast to work together to provide three hours of uplifting theatre. And a separate production of The Recruiting Officer with the same cast is running alongside Our Country’s Good until April 5.