By Merijo Guercio
Our Country’s Good, currently playing at the University of Utah, is based on the real historical facts about the First Fleet’s transportation of criminals from England to Australia to establish an English Colony in 1787. The prisoners were subject to the worst of humanity for months on end on the ships, battling disease, hunger, and surviving on meager sea rations. Australia had become a British Penal colony completely populated with the criminals. One leader, Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark (Brandt Garber) wants to restore some sense of pride by presenting a play, The Recruiting Officer. His motive is not completely altruistic, as he is hoping to present the play as a birthday gift to the King and earn a promotion in the Royal Marines. The show explores the conflicting leadership styles as the English majors played by Gavin Yehle and Benjamin Young rage against Clark, the play, and the convicts.
The play, written by Timberlake Wertenbaker, is based on the novel The Playmaker by Thomas Keneally. It first opened in 1988 at London’s National Theatre, and played on Broadway in 1991.
Director Shannon Shippobotham, Stage Designer Kyle Becker, and Producer Gage Williams set the stage with audience on both sides and in the theatre seats at the front of the stage. Ropes and Colonial pieces are moved to transform the stage from ship dock to Lieutenant’s quarters, to public hanging forum, to the rehearsal stage. The transitions are fun to watch as the cast moves the ropes dramatically. The score includes melodic, tribal tones sung by the cast as they reset seamlessly. The rope transitions are very effective and the depiction of the hanging site and the lashing deck are dramatic.
Shippobotham adds to the stage ambiance with the presence of the Aborigine (Ryan Enrique Gando), who seems to be offering fortune-teller-like vibes to the story and to the internal production. He offers a reminder that Australia’s outback is full of mystery and danger.
Stealing the show is the Officer character Sideway played by Mike Behan. Behan provides comic relief to the heavy and turbulent story line as he attempts to teach the cast “theatre presence”. The audience reacts with laughter each time Behan approaches the stage. He is also in charge of setting the ropes for public hangings. His loyalty is tested when his cast mate is accused.
The standout performance and storyline’s hero is the accused thief Liz Morden played by Katryna Williams. Williams’ Liz is saucy and seductive when she demands to be cast as Rose in Officer. Liz views life with brash humor when she is falsely accused and subject to hang. The code of the convict pervades her from proclaiming her innocence until she is reborn through the process of performance. The moment when she saves herself from hanging out of loyalty to her fellow actors remains the high point of the play. The entire ensemble with the exception of Lt. Clark is double cast, and intermingling stories tell of love, loss, despair, and longing for Mother England. The gravity of the subject matter, the “play within the play”, and the double casting required the audience to pay close attention.
However, lost sexual power due to cialis cialis uk years of over masturbation habit or disorders of the sexual Health Inventory Management (SHIM) Survey. Physiotherapy practitioner desires to restore the proper functioning of the body, and facilitate easier erections for men click that now vardenafil online who struggle with impotence. Short-term medical treatments can also be a feasible solution to this terrifying nightmare (if only Ben knew about this half an hour tadalafil 20mg españa back. ssshhh let him sleep now). However, taking these Cheap Erectile Dysfunction Drugs would not produce an erection cialis generic price automatically.
Based on the true story of over 160,000 deportees, mostly criminals, Our Country’s Good and Lt. Clark beg us to recall that we can transcend the brutal. Given the battle they were going through on a daily basis, why would the convicts wish to create The Recruiting Officer? What prompts soldiers and convicts alike to defy specific orders and bring the play to this harsh land where they can barely survive? Why do we need art? The question is as relevant today as in 1787.
At the Babcock, the stage lights dim as the cast of The Recruiting Officer take the stage, as if to confirm that humanity has defeated chaos and disaster, and the show will go on. The play ends with the sound system blasting Pink’s “What About Us” music and fist pumping lyrics.
Our Country’s Good has Adult subject matter, recommended for High School age and older.
University of Utah Department of Theatre presents Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Babcock Theatre, 240 1500 E #206, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Contact: 801-581-7100
April 6-8,2-15 7:30 PM, April 14-15, 2018 2:00 PM
Tickets: General: $18, UofU Fac/Staff, Seniors (60+)/Military: $15, Free for UofU students with valid student ID, Students: $8.50
University of Utah Theatre Department Facebook Page
UofU College of Fine Arts Facebook Page
Our Country’s Good Facebook Event
0 Comments