Australia Day

Mordialloc Theatre Company always brings the goods to the Mornington Peninsula theatrical scene and Australia Day has certainly combined with all their tremendous work to date.

The play, written by Jonathan Biggins (an all-rounder performer, writer, and director in his own right), attempts to show what its like to sneak a peek into the conflict that surrounds the significance and substance of our National public holiday.

It is a true-blue Aussie comedy set in the fictional town of Coriole, where preparations are underway for the annual Australia Day community celebration. On the committee is the Mayor Brian, who is actively trying to further his career to federal politics, his dependable right-hand-man Robert, local builder and stereotypical country man Wally, the head of the CWA and the woman who knows everyone (and all of their business) Marie, new to the shire and fresh faced Greens councilor Helen and flamboyant, constant joker, sometimes prophetic, teacher Chester.

Then there is the burning hot button topics: racism, disabilities, environmentalism, diversity, cultural awareness, and he ever present political/personal corruption. In differing ways, the play is surrounded by a person’s ability (or ignorance) to self-censor – What do you do when you are truly passionate about a topic? Is it ok to think those bad thoughts as long as you don't say them out loud to others? At what point do you, or can you,stop chewing your own tongue and call someone out on bigotry or lack of the whole picture?

Plays like this need to stir up conversation and discussion that seems to be lacking in the tenuous political climate of late. Which is the real reason why this play needs to be seen en-masse.

In the end however, not one person is correct. There is no right answer to these issues. Wally may be as stubborn and unchanging as a mule but he always retains his dignity when dealing with the controversial topics in the room; Helen is a true ‘greenie’ with high hopes to change the world, staring with the Coriole community, but still holds an ambitions drive to always get ahead; the sociable and gregarious Brian combines public morals with self-interest; and Chester's constant pun-worthy jokes shows that sometimes humour can prove the only way to cope in strenuous situations.

The cast work as a true ensemble, all perfectly sitting within their characters.Notable performances got to Cheryl Ballantine-Richards as Marie, the lovingly, ever knowledgeable, grandmother type. Her personified style accenting the role perfectly; and Paris Romanis as Wally – it was hard not to like this rough exterior with a tragic underlying past. Romanis played this role with composure, but ‘letting it rip’ when needs arose.

Set by the director and Mordialloc Theatre’s own 'Dads Army' certainly felt as if you were sitting in the local scout hall. A true 'slice of life' theatrical event down to the local school band’s “version” of the National Anthem (too bad there weren't any lamingtons or 'snot blocks' to go around!).

Review by Penelope Thomas