The Dapto Chaser

When Four Corners broadcast footage of widespread dirty deeds in the Greyhound racing industry, the producers of this play must have been as pleased as a puppy when its master returns home after a long trip.

Here was life imitating art, just a month or so before its run  ‘around the track’ in Sydney.  

Some good old fashioned research helped shape this play. The Dapto Chaser was deeply influenced by Mary Rachel Brown’s time speaking to people involved in the Dapto Dogs near Wollongong (south of Sydney ) .

This part of the world has been famously mined for humour by Aunty Jack and Norman Gunston, many decades past.

Under the direction of Glynn Nicholas there was an abundance of new laughs to share around.

The play opens with Errol Sinclair  (Danny Adcock) straining to tune his radio in to the greyhound race broadcast. Before he takes his last gasp, he wants to place a pineapple ($50 note) and a lobster ($20) on a sure thing.

We learn later that Errol would never “be seen dead at a funeral.” This almost becomes prophetic as his sons Jimmy (Jamie Oxenbould) and  Cess (Richard Sydenham) struggle to scrape together the means to give him a proper send-off.

Despite the tapestry painted of dogs, small time crooks and gambling, this play has at its heart the theme of family and how men cope with loss. They struggle to provide proper emotional support to each other.

The only affection shown in this male world is to the prized greyhound. Richard Sydenham beautifully mimed being licked by his best friend.

The villain of the piece is Arnold Denny (Noel Hodda) who ruthlessly exploits the Sinclairs’ misfortune.

This is a very entertaining play, however I felt that it could have been more satisfying with a larger cast of characters...including a woman.

Plays which are commissioned by smaller companies tend to be restricted to smaller casts. This is an idea that could thrive on a wider platform.

David Spicer

Photographer: Robert Catto.