Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker

Northern Theatre Studio2
June 16-18 2000

The penal colony, Sidney Cove 1789; The Governor General enlists a young lieutenant to direct a Restoration Comedy. But with the other officers hostile and a leading lady being measured for the gallows, it all seems doomed to failure.

Cast
Capt Philip

Simon Kibblewhite
Major Ross

David Burton
Capt Collins

Andy Hodgson
Capt Tench

Matti Kiviniemi
Capt Campbell

Dermot Rathbone
Reverend Johnson

Val Howell
Lt Johnston

Janet Bartle
Lt Dawes

Tanya Platten
2nd Lt Clark

Steve Clappison
2nd Lt Faddy

Helen Robinson
Harry Brewer

Ray Rumkee
An Aborigine

Val Howell
John Arscott

David Burton
Mary Brenham

Helen Robinson
Dabby Bryant

Tanya Platten
John Caesar

Ray Rumkee
Ketch Freeman

Dermot Rathbone
Meg Long

Val Howell
Liz Morden

Sharon Burton
Robert Sideway

Simon Kibblewhite
Duckling Smith

Janet Bartle
John Wisehammer

Matti Kiviniemi

Directed by Andy Hodgson
We Won't Notice The Audience...

Saturday's performance was also the date of the vital Euro 2000 match between England and Germany. We knew we would come off second best but for the first time ever the cast outnumbered the audience as nine (yes nine!) hardy souls put culture before national pride. Then we had to get home without finding out the result! Which wasn't helped by people shouting "Shearer, Shearer", on the way back.
Now We Will...

To make up for Saturday we played to a full house on Sunday which just happened to be the hottest day of the year. While we sweltered in the officer’s uniforms we could see the audience fanning themselves with their programmes. So, always buy a programme; you never know when you might need it.
The Audience Won't Notice

Getting changed into her officer’s uniform in the blackout for the after dinner scene, Tanya couldn't get her arms into the jacket and threw her glass of sherry all over Janet trying to put her wig on. She had to perform the scene with her hands stuck in the jacket sleeves and her wig on sideways. Luckily Lieutenant Dawes was a pretty out of it character anyway.
Punishment
Director's Commentary

One of the most satisfying experiences of my life. This is a very fine play, which I hope will be recognised one day as a genuine classic. I really feel that we did it proper justice: it was funny, gripping, shocking and uplifting. It helped that everyone was cast perfectly, although I claim no credit for this, as it wasn’t the original cast I had in mind! An extraordinarily powerful run through of the "Second Rehearsal" scene on Sunday sticks in the mind, and the final performance in particular was something special.  It’s right up there with the best things we’ve ever done Andy
The Voyage Out
The Authorities Discuss The Merits Of The Theatre
The Women Learn Their Lines
The Science Of Hanging
John Wisehammer And Mary Brenham Exchange Words
Quote, Unquote

What a great script. Or maybe we're just suckers for plays about the inspirational power of theatre. I never felt that I nailed the Second Rehearsal scene where Major Ross viciously humiliates the convicts until I discovered one night that I’d reduced Helen to tears David
So glad we did this one. Powerful and poignant. Great performances. Costumes looked fab but I really pitied the blokes on performance nights as they sweated buckets Sharon
Great parts for all the actors. Often funny but tear jerking, too Betty
I usually get the 'shy English bloke who speaks in a clear accent' so it shouldn't have been such a surprise to get the Ralph Clark role. Only my second appearance but my first stage kiss (naturally I do loads now), my first huge role (Ralph was in nearly every scene with lots of monologues) and my first proper dressing up for a part. I was also fond of Simon's portrayal of Sideway Steve
Great costumes and set; had funny moments in rehearsal and performance Helen