History on stage
Thieves, liars and whores are coming to town by the wagon-load to star in Darlinghurst Theatre’s production of Our Country’s Good
.
The show is a take on the true story of the first play performed in Australia with an entire cast of convicts.
It’s about people who are displaced and ostracised, who are oppressed and have spent their lives being put upon, abused and judged, director Michael Booth told Sydney Star Observer.
Now is their chance to band together, find their true selves and rise up in the name of entertainment.
In today’s society people are growing isolated, with television, iPods, computers -” we are losing the means of physical interaction. The uniting and liberating effect of people working together to forge a common goal is somewhat lost now.
Producer Jocelyn Brewer said the production was like trying to get a bunch of guests from The Jerry Springer Show together to perform on stage -” but without the ill-fitting tracksuits and challenged language.
Things are not exclusive to the GLBT community, she said. That era was a very interesting one in terms of sex and gender. Men could play women in theatre, but the idea of women being actors was outrageous.
Famous historical figures such as Captain Arthur Phillip, Lieutenant Ralph Clark and infamous convict Mary Bryant all make appearances in the showcase.
info: Our Country’s Good opened on Wednesday 23 July and will play until Saturday 23 August. Tickets start at $30. Bookings on www.darlinghursttheatre.com or 83569987
