ANZAC Bikkies

Audiences are currently suffering from overkill in the portrayal of the 100^th anniversary of the ANZAC’s landing at Gallipoli, on film, television and in theatre.

The Arts Theatre’s contribution is a premiere production of ANZAC Bikkies, edited by director Lynne Wright from a script by Paul Sherman. Told as a series of vignettes it looks at the Gallipoli campaign through the eyes of soldiers, nurses and officers, and covers the embarkation of innocent youths going off to fight, the folly of the landing and the ineptitude of the British military.

Although Sherman uses historical quotes, verse, and rhyme, and even appropriates the characters of Ginger Mick and Rose from C.J. Dennis’s The Sentimental Bloke, it’s more a history lesson than anything and as such is fairly dry and academic. The sequences featuring Keith Murdoch (father of Rupert) as a war correspondent were the most involving and illuminating. Dominic Tennyson doubling in two roles was strong and believable as Murdoch, and arrogant and pompous as the Brit Sir Ian Hamilton. Matt McInally impressed as Leon, one of the wounded, Joel Sutton was a gauche Ginger Mick, while Kuris Laing brought some nice empathy as the young soldier Ben. Francis Foo’s costumes looked authentic, while Jess Stim’s lighting was effective.

At one-hour long, it’s a short play of two 30 minute acts and very episodic. The work would have benefited by the use of more music like the period songs played before the show and during interval to underscore the action.

Peter Pinne