Actors Andrea Close and Tyler Jenkins in The Street’s Playback. Photo: Shelly Higgs.
It must be the season for political plays, because there are a couple of rippers opening in Canberra this weekend.
One is a somewhat contemporary look at a moment in Australia’s history that helped shape the nation’s democracy, while the other delivers a unique spin on a more recent controversial political figure.
The pros at The Street Company present Playback (or, a Play About But Not Starring A Famous Politician), a comedic look at former PM Scott Morrison, while the Irish Community Players’ Peter Lalor at Eureka explores the 1854 Eureka Stockade gold miners’ rebellion against British authoritarian rule.
The Street’s play opens on Saturday (23 May) with a preview performance accessible the night before.
Touted as a “sharp, fast-paced, satirical comedy served with a twist of disquiet”, Playback (or, a Play About But Not Starring A Famous Politician) was written by Tom Glassey, who has worked as a Press Gallery journalist, and centres on the day of Morrison’s valedictory.
Lead character, sidelined broadcast reporter Deborah, believes she’s onto a big yarn and just might be staring at her last chance to make something of her career with an interview with the outgoing PM.
Enter an enigmatic young man who teams up with Deborah to find the singular question that will define one legacy, and end another.
“I have a thing for Scott Morrison. I set out to write this work hoping for some sort of catharsis,” playwright Glassey said.
“Hoping that if I read enough books and columns, and watched his episode of Kitchen Cabinet enough times, I’d uncover something about the man that explained him to me.
“But ultimately, all I learned is that there are people far more important than Scott Morrison, whose names are far less known.”
Playback (or, a Play About But Not Starring A Famous Politician) tackles obsessive political hysteria. It takes the audience on a journey with the ‘great equivocator’ through boats and strawberries, Hawaii and hoses, women and Robodebt.
The cast of Peter Lalor at Eureka, following a recent rehearsal. Photo: Irish Community Players
On the southside at the Canberra Irish Club, the short season of Peter Lalor at Eureka opens on Sunday. It brings some modern perspectives to a dramatic episode that’s so entrenched in the Australian psyche.
In addition to Lalor and the other rebels, this play explores the role women and people from diverse ethnicities played in the political uprising.
Written by longstanding local drama teacher, director and playwright Ian Phillips (this is his 23rd show), the play is set in its historical context, but with a broader application.
“I have always had an interest in Eureka, and I think it’s woefully overlooked as regards to its importance in Australia’s history,” Mr Phillips said.
“It’s had an amazing impact on our culture.
“And it took place just a few decades after other uprisings around the world, like the French Revolution and the US War of Independence, both in the late 1770s.
“It was an era of uprisings against tyranny and authoritarianism. This was ours in Australia, and it has strengthened us as a democracy today.”
Peter Lalor at Eureka is an original script that links the events of the past to today.
One of its actors, former senior public servant Adrian Breen, who plays a reporter on the scene, said he was drawn to the play for its originality and because it presents a true perspective on the diversity of Australia at the time.
“It certainly has more detailed information about Eureka that is usually known,” he said.
“It gives a voice to women that the telling of history didn’t; and it gives a voice to more than 15 nationalities that were there.
“It’s a very exciting play, with some very compelling dialogue and exciting fight scenes, with some pretty cool special effects. And there’s some great music in it too.”
Playback (or, a Play About But Not Starring A Famous Politician) runs Friday, 22 May, to Sunday, 31 May, at The Street Theatre, Canberra. Tickets available through the theatre’s website.
Peter Lalor at Eureka, an Irish Community Players production, runs Sunday, 24 May, to Wednesday, 27 May, at the Canberra Irish Club, Weston. Tickets through the Trybooking website.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
