Australia Day

In a small country town, typically Australian, a committee meets  in the local Scout Hall to discuss celebrations for the next Australia Day. Why discussion is necessary is a moot point, as they tend to follow the same tired program, year after year. With two new comers both to the town and the committee, this approach is challenged. Suggested changes are met with scepticism, alarm, and accusations. The attendant discord is the focus of the first act of Australia Day, a play by well known satirist Jonathan Biggins, and presented by Therry Society.

The second act, this being the actual Australia Day, reveals that lack of coordination, despite all the meetings, as well as stormy weather, and the impending visit of John and Jeanette Howard, who may or may not attend, is an excellent recipe for disaster.

The satire sharpens, revealing that ambition and prejudice can be found in people of right, left, woke or long held beliefs. are to be found in all sides of society and politics.

This play was first performed in 2012, and it is quite disturbing to find that this depicted microcosm of society is as relevant today as it was then. The same arguments as to ‘welcome to country’, multi cultural representation and who won the war – any war will do,  are still trigger points for the members of a committee planning a day to celebrate an Australia. they find difficult to define. 

Director Jude Hines has assembled a fine group of actors. Brian Harrigan (Stephen Bills) Mayor and Chair, swings from calling rank to crippling indecision. Robert Wilson (Adam Schulz) as Deputy Mayor, shows authority and good sense amid the mayhem. Maree Bucknell (Kristina Kidd) represents the CWA and brings her knitting to the meeting, but from time to time she shows there is more to her than one row plain, one row pearl. Wally Stewart (Steve Kidd) exemplifies the people who look back to the past with nostalgia, but is also rock solid in his integrity and courage, prepared to say what probably many others were thinking. Helen McInnes (Michele Kelsey) a young woman, member of the Greens, confident that she represents all that is correct and ethical, argues strongly with Wally throughout. Chester Lee (Ollie Xu) as the Australian born Vietnamese, is, in his own way, a stabilising presence, and patient good humour.

That having being said, the play is, as you would expect fromJonathan Billings, very funny. The  cliches lighten the underlying commentary on the divisions and dearly held beliefs which abound in our country. Nor is it trivialised. The danger of a small family business being swamped by the prospect of a new Bunnings just down the road,  highlights the argument that what is new is not necessarily progress; nor are the old ways always the most advantageous. 

Finally, the acceptable coating of social interaction is stripped away to reveal  the manipulations, threats, fears and ambitions which motivate us all. The humour still resonates, but with an uneasiness that might prompt the audience to watch and think: there but for the grace of God go I.

Therry Theatre

Director Jude Hines

Arts Theatre, Angas Street,  8-18 April