5 STARS
Our Country’s Good tackles a painful part of British-Australian history, one that should not be forgotten, and the concept of whether prisoners can be ‘taught’ to be civilised again. Under the direction of Laura Thornton, the production pulled off these difficult topics to glorious effect.
In a dissonant manner, the cast managed to mix humour with a serious topic that in no way diminishes the importance of the issue and creates a thought-provoking, haunting masterpiece.
The entirety of the cast members threw everything into it, with particularly intense performances from Zoe Plummer, Eoin Buckley and Duncan McGillivray as Liz Morden, Harry Brewer and Major Ross respectively. It should be noted that, especially in the case of Buckley and his onstage partner Ellen Richardson as Duckling, the cast are not afraid to tread the fine line between sexuality and indecency where it is needed.
Similarly, in so thoroughly becoming their characters, Plummer and McGillivray’s performances will make you tense in your seat, fighting the urge to retreat as so many characters did. Director Laura Thornton is quoted saying that, ‘[The cast] don the mask of their characters so well that I could not separate them from their own person’. The entire cast did this with stunning results.
This was a spectacular piece of work and everyone should definitely get down to Nottingham New Theatre to see it.
Our Country’s Good runs until Saturday, and tickets can be bought here.
Edited by Harriet Dunlea