New Songs from the Prison without Walls
Theatre
Royal Hobart
by Gai
Anderson
There is
so much to like about this show. It's rich entertainment on so many
levels, and the sold out crowd was lapping it up at its premiere at
the first DARK MOFO Festival in Hobart on Friday night.
 |
| Image courtesy of MOFO programme |
The
talented and prolific Thomas brothers, Steve of Roar Film in Hobart
and Mick, of Weddings Parties Anything fame, have outdone
themselves in bringing us this dramatized song cycle of eighteen
powerful Tasmanian tales. It is based on real stories from Founders
and Survivors Storylines, a comprehensive multi-media website
created by Steve Thomas. The website tells the story of the making of
Australia based on the world heritage listed convict records of
Tasmania. Everyone should check it out. It is beautiful, mind-blowing
in scope and versions of the songs are there to listen to.
The
tales Mick has chosen to turn into song take a particular tack. It
explores a largely unknown aspect of the early colony history, where
the convict stain was so great that Victoria passed a law forbidding
these Vandemonian Lags to run away from their dark past in
Tasmania to the promise of a new life even if they had been freed.
And yet, as Australia goes to WW1 not 50 years later for king and
country, more than 50% of those soldiers are the direct descendants
of convicts.
On stage
we hear these great songs of tragedy, love, sex and death, brought to
life by Mick and 13 other remarkable performers and musicians. All in
costume, they include amongst others Jeff Lang, Ben Salter and Jen
Anderson. This is all topped off with the larger than life Brian
Nannkervis (Rock Quiz) and Tim Rogers (You Am I), who provide the
historical context in pantomime as comic narrators. Steve Thomas’s
beautiful projections add another layer of interpretation. There is a
lot going on.
It is
the wonderful music and the emotional truth of the musicians who
depict the characters whose stories they sing that really carries
this show. From heart-wrenching and haunting folksy ballads, toe
tapping bango-plucking, rollicking jigs, marching rhythms to gypsy
and rock and roll thrash, there are some exceptionally crafted songs,
beautiful harmonic singing and stand out performances.
Amongst
my highlights was the Vandemonian Lags song itself, Jane
Gilligan on the Town, and the duet between Jeff Lang on electric
guitar and violinist Jen Anderson. There are far too many to mention.
Mick Thomas wrote most of the songs. It was some of those written by
Ben Salter, Van Walker, Liz Stringer, Darren Hanlon and Jeff Lang
that were among my favourites.
More
variation to the sometimes overly folksy sentimental ballad style of
Mick Thomas, particularly in the first half, could have added to the
dynamics of the show. And I did wonder about the sometimes seemingly
random jumping to WW1 stories. But these are minor criticisms.
