The Man From Mukinupin
Thu, 21 Feb 2013, 07:10 amFloody3 posts in thread
The Man From Mukinupin
Thu, 21 Feb 2013, 07:10 amThe Graduate Dramatic Society celebrated in the outdoor New Fortune Theatre at UWA with a fine performance of Dorothy Hewett’s play/musical The Man from Mukinupin. This play was originally produced by the National Theatre at the Playhouse for Western Australia’s 150th celebrations in 1979.
The first night was disrupted by a fire alarm going off which interrupted the continuity for a short period. But the actors resumed as true professionals.
In attendance were some of the cast from the original production at the Playhouse including well known Perth actress Jenny McNae. No doubt Irishman John Doyle would have been proud of this production. John recently retired as theatre manager at UWA with 40 years service with responsibility for all the theatres within UWA. The play was set in the fictional south-west country town of Mukinupin and told the story of Australia’s growth, recording a potted history of the early 1900’s, of a young man who emerges from the bush, falls in love and goes to war. We got a taste of life in the bush through the eyes of the young lovers as they grow and lose their innocence. The live peacocks in the lofts of the New Fortune Theatre added a touch of authenticity to Dorothy Hewetts' play. There were great performances from Cameron Taylor and Bonnie Coyle (a great talent) in the leading roles with good support from Liz Hoffman, Amanda Crewes, Rosemary Longhurst and Yvette Wall.
FloodyThu, 21 Feb 2013, 07:10 am
The Graduate Dramatic Society celebrated in the outdoor New Fortune Theatre at UWA with a fine performance of Dorothy Hewett’s play/musical The Man from Mukinupin. This play was originally produced by the National Theatre at the Playhouse for Western Australia’s 150th celebrations in 1979.
The first night was disrupted by a fire alarm going off which interrupted the continuity for a short period. But the actors resumed as true professionals.
In attendance were some of the cast from the original production at the Playhouse including well known Perth actress Jenny McNae. No doubt Irishman John Doyle would have been proud of this production. John recently retired as theatre manager at UWA with 40 years service with responsibility for all the theatres within UWA. The play was set in the fictional south-west country town of Mukinupin and told the story of Australia’s growth, recording a potted history of the early 1900’s, of a young man who emerges from the bush, falls in love and goes to war. We got a taste of life in the bush through the eyes of the young lovers as they grow and lose their innocence. The live peacocks in the lofts of the New Fortune Theatre added a touch of authenticity to Dorothy Hewetts' play. There were great performances from Cameron Taylor and Bonnie Coyle (a great talent) in the leading roles with good support from Liz Hoffman, Amanda Crewes, Rosemary Longhurst and Yvette Wall.
stingerWed, 6 Mar 2013, 12:00 am
as true professionals
Yes, I was there at that opening. It will go down in the History of WA Theatre as a most dramatic night :rofl:
As for the play, it is a great story and was well-told on this occasion. Brecht would have been proud I'm sure, if not Speilberg. Neither of whom are Australians, incidentally.
If Hewett was still alive, I'd ask her why she didn't make more of the dispossession of the blacks, forced by these respectable white families into a fringe-dweller existence. I'd also ask her why she didn't speak up more for the women who, as John Lennon said, were the '.....of the world' back then.
As a playwright, she has rights. For one thing, she could have specified that aboriginal actors be cast as Harry and Lilly, rather than have the (admittedly talented) white couple doubling up as Jack and Polly. For another, she could have put some lower limit on what the flasher could expose;)
Incidentally, I have it on good authority that great local aboriginal talent is readily available, even to community theatre, like GRADS.
Well done, all.
Ssstinger>>>