| Our Country's Good | |
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Dramatic Publishing Co. edition, 1989 |
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| Written by | Timberlake Wertenbaker |
| Date premiered | 1988 |
| Place premiered | Royal Court Theatre London, England |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Based on a true story of convicts rehearsing a play |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | 18th century, Sydney, Australia |
Our Country's Good is a 1988 play written by British playwright, Timberlake Wertenbaker, adapted from the Thomas Keneally novel The Playmaker. The story concerns a group of Royal Marines and convicts in a penal colony in New South Wales, in the 1780s, who put on a production of The Recruiting Officer. First staged at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on 10 September 1988, directed by Max Stafford-Clark. It ran on Broadway in 1991.
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In the 1780s, convicts and Royal Marines were sent to Australia as part of the first penal colony there. The play shows the class system in the convict camp and discusses themes such as sexuality, punishment, the Georgian judicial system, and the idea that that it is possible for ‘theatre to be a humanising force'.
As part of their research, Stafford-Clark and Wertenbaker went to see a play performed by convicts at Wormwood Scrubs, which proved very inspiring: "in prison conditions, theatre can be hugely heartening and influential and indeed in prison your options are so limited you can become a born-again Christian, a gym-queen constantly working out, a bird watcher or you become passionate about theatre." The convicts were, at least momentarily, civilized human beings, and they had taken their work very seriously: The convicts knew their lines absolutely because they had nothing else to do and they didn't want to waste time with pleasantries; as soon as you came into the room they started rehearsing. The two hours were very intense because the time was so valuable and we saw immediately how doing a play could become absolutely absorbing if you were incarcerated.
Most of the characters in the play are based on real people who sailed with the First Fleet, though some have had their names changed. Wertenbaker was able to read the journals of First Fleet members in order to portray them accurately.
The action is sometimes interrupted by short speeches from an unnamed Aboriginal Australian, who charts the British settlement's effect on the indigenous populations. He reacts with curiosity, confusion, and finally fear.
Shortly after the First Fleet arrives in Australia, Governor Arthur Phillip is disappointed with the colony's state of affairs. While hunting with Captains Tench and Collins and Midshipman Harry Brewer, Phillip mentions that the convicts could put on a play to encourage unity. Harry relays this suggestion to Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark, his only friend. A convict-produced play, Ralph believes, could be a way for him to gain the attention of Governor Phillip. During their meeting he tells Ralph that he has seen the ghost of Handy Baker, a man he personally hanged and who was the lover of Lucy, known as "Duckling", a convict, whom Harry covets.
Ralph decides to direct George Farquhar's restoration comedy The Recruiting Officer. He auditions several convicts, including Mary Brenham, her friend Dabby Bryant, the flamboyant pickpocket Robert Sideway, and the violent Liz Morden before Major Robbie Ross discovers Ralph's plan and denounces it at a meeting of the military officers. The group debates the merits of theatre, ending with many against the idea of the convicts being in a play. Nonetheless, with Governor Phillip's sanction, rehearsals continue. Harry reluctantly allows Duckling to be in Ralph's play, and during a line rehearsal between the women in the cast, a fight erupts between Dabby Bryant and Liz Morden. They are interrupted and separated by James Freeman, a young convict whom the women hate and call "Ketch." Ketch turns to Ralph for comfort, insisting that he is innocent for the crime for which he was sent to Australia (killing a scab dockworker) and begging Ralph for a part in the play; Ralph relents.
At the first rehearsal, several actors are missing. While the cast rehearses, Caesar—one of the missing actors—rushes in. Major Ross and Campbell arrive shortly thereafter and arrest him, explaining that he was, along with Wisehammer and Arscott, involved in an organized theft from the food stores and attempted escape. Liz Morden is also arrested on suspicion. Major Ross personally insults Ralph before taking what amounts to half of Ralph's cast into custody.
In jail, Liz, Wisehammer, Caesar, and Arscott argue about the futility of life before they are visited by the rest of the cast. Despite four of them being in chains, they rehearse. Harry Brewer, meanwhile, grows increasingly insane, tormented by what he believes are the ghosts of Handy Baker and Thomas Barrett, a young man Harry also hanged. Harry speaks in their voices before screaming for Duckling to help. When she arrives, she comforts Harry only to have him accuse her of sleeping with Handy's ghost on the beach.
Ralph's hope dissipates. A meeting with Governor Phillip assures him that the play is not only just but integral to the colony's future. Major Ross interrupts their second rehearsal. Ralph tries to get Ross to leave, causing Ross to cruelly embarrass Robert Sideway, Dabby Bryant, and Mary Brenham. Ross orders Mary to show an embarrassing tattoo until Sideway gets her to continue rehearsing to appease Ross. Major Ross reacts by ordering Captain Campbell to flog John Arscott next to the rehearsal space, where Arscott's cries are plainly audible.
Because Liz Morden refuses to speak to the officers to defend herself, she has been sentenced to death. Ketch initially refuses to measure her for hanging but reluctantly bows to Harry Brewer's orders, eventually confessing his love for Liz as Harry hears the ghost of Thomas Barrett. Ketch pleads for Liz to confess (as this may save her life). Liz tells a lucid Harry that she never stole any food, but then Harry suddenly becomes violently dissociative and torments himself in Thomas's voice before screaming and falling to the ground. Harry's episode and Liz Morden's imminent execution put the cast on edge: Sideway refuses to attend rehearsal; Duckling is barred from visiting Harry, who is unconscious; a squabble between Dabby Bryant and John Arscott causes a rehearsal to end in chaos. Around this time, Ralph acknowledges his feelings for Mary Brenham; with Mary dressed in her male costume and reciting her lines, they kiss and undress for each other.
At Harry's bedside, Duckling promises to always love him if he survives, only to discover he has just died. Shortly afterward, the officers convene to discuss the question of Liz: with Ketch having told of Liz's confession to the now-deceased Harry, Ralph and Captain Collins believe Liz innocent, while Ross refuses to accept the word of a convict over that of the officer who testified he saw Liz steal. Liz herself is eventually brought in and, after a long silence, finally says that she did not steal and merely knew about the robbery. As failure to report is not a hangable offense, Liz is saved and Collins orders a retrial.
Backstage on the night of The Recruiting Officer's premiere, each of the actors expresses optimism for the future. Dabby Bryant reveals that she plans to escape by boat later that night. Wisehammer presents a controversial prologue he has written for the play. Though titillated by the prologue, Ralph insists that they not make enemies on the first night. The play ends as Arscott delivers the opening monologue to thunderous applause.
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In England, the play is used by the exam board AQA and Edexcel as a set text for Advanced Level Theatre Studies and as a set text to use in comparison essays for GCE. It has also been used in universities' performing arts and English departments. It has been performed across Europe as part of GCE candidates' final performances. It is also used at AS level in English Literature studies, as well as a set text in the OIB administered by CIE and is also commonly used in English speaking English Literature classes for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
The play's first production was at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on 10 September 1988, directed by Max Stafford-Clark. The production starred David Haig as Ralph Clark, Jim Broadbent as Harry Brewer, John Arscott and Captain Campbell, Linda Bassett as Lieutenant Will Dawes and Liz Morden, and Ron Cook as Captain Arthur Phillip and John Wisehammer.[1]
Our Country's Good premiered on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1991 and closed on June 8, 1991 after 12 previews and 48 performances. Directed by Mark Lamos, the cast featured Cherry Jones (Reverend Johnson), Peter Frechette (2nd Lieutenant Ralph Clark), Tracey Ellis (Lieutenant George Johnston), Amelia Campbell (Lieutenant Will Dawes, Duckling Smith, Meg Long) and J. Smith-Cameron (2nd Lieutenant William Faddy).
The play was performed at the Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum Theatre, directed by Caroline Hall and featuring Louise Gold as Lieutenant Will Dawes and Liz Morden.[1] It was also presented at the Liverpool Playhouse in 2007. Among the cast members was Charlie Brooks. The actors also provided a workshop for real life convicts in Walton Prison.
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