Our Country's Good

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Event Our Country's Good
Venue Playhouse, Melbourne, VIC
First Date 1 June 1989
Opening Date 5 June 1989
Last Date 8 July 1989
Dates Estimated No
Status Professional
World Premiere No
Part of a Tour Yes
Description Essentially, the narrative deals with how a group of soul-shrivelled convicts, directed by Lieutenant Ralph Clark, mounts a performance of The Recruiting Officer to celebrate the King's birthday in 1789. Based on Thomas Kenneally's novel, "The Playmaker". A number of 'breeches roles' were played; by Helen Morse, Kim Trengove, Sally Cooper and Nicki Wendt.
Description Source Reviewer's Opinion
Primary Genre Theatre - Spoken Word
Secondary Genre Historical
Subjects Colonial
Convicts
Theatre
Organisations
Contributors
Name Function Notes
Dennis Coard Actor Captain Campbell
Sally Cooper Actor Lt Will Dawes/Duckling/Meg Long
Neil Fitzpatrick Actor Cpt Arthur Phillip/Robert Sideway
Kurt Geyer Actor Cpt Watkin Trench
Philip Holder Actor 2nd Lt Ralph Clark
Bob Hornery Actor Major Robbie Ross
Tom E Lewis Actor Aboriginal Australian/Black Caesar
Robert Menzies Actor Cpt David Collins/John Wisehammer
Helen Morse Actor Rev Johnson/Liz Morden
Richard Piper Actor Midshipman Harry Brewer
David Roberts Actor Midshipman Harry Brewer (could not complete season due to illness)
Kim Trengove Actor Lt George Johnson/Dabby
Nicki Wendt Actor 2nd Lt Will Faddy/Mary Brenham
Ian Maxwell Assistant Director
Nina Logan Assistant Stage Manager
Tony Tripp Designer
Roger Hodgman Director
Jamieson Lewis Lighting Designer
Colin Alexander Lighting Operator/Technician
Timberlake Wertenbaker Playwright
Peter Roehlen Production Manager
Kerry Saxby Sound Designer
Tanya Leach Stage Manager
Thomas Keneally Writer
Resources
Works
Text Nationality England
Production Nationality Australia
Further Information To mark the bicentenary of Australian theatre, Melbourne and Sydney are playing host to separate productions of a richly historical coalition of two plays: this and Farqhar's The Recruiting Officer. Both plays in the Melbourne Theatre Ccompany season played in repertory from about 5 June. During the production of this play David Roberts became ill and Richard Piper replaced him.
Event Status Completed
Data Source
Source Description
Programme MTC season
Cast List MTC Records
Australian & New Zealand Theatre Record June 1989
Data Reviewed By RobertTaylor on 19 November 2024
Data Set AusStage
Event Identifier 1833