LEGEND

The Legend that launched a thousand Slips!

Many outstanding moments in Australian history, such our resistance in Gallipoli, the carnage on bloody Kokoda track, building the Sydney Opera House, Bradman at the bat and the adoration of Nellie Melba, have been celebrated over many years in many ways. But until now we never knew the shadowy figure that stood behind these and many more amazing feats. In LEGEND writer Pat Sheil finally reveals that ‘Slips’ Cordon provided the safe handling of these legendary events. Without Slips ‘being there’ Australia would be a mere shadow of what it is today.

Somewhat like George MacDonald Frazer’s Flashman presence in British history, ‘Slips’ Cordon was present at most of the major moments over the past 100 years of Australian history. So he can now tell his audience what really happened because ‘he was there’! In a mere 70 minutes John Derum convincingly creates this remarkable character and delivers a dozen anecdotes with the authority of a Governor General or possibly a drunken psychopathic liar.

Slips never fails to amuse and many of his stories are engrossing. But the tales do not always flow easily from one to the next and the script feels a little like a bundle of short stories spread out on stage. But Derum’s riveting performance sucks us into Cordon’s vortex of megalomania and historic or hysteric fantasy.

A simple set stuffed with the paraphernalia of a long and fruitful life provides a perfect setting for our raconteur narrator. But exactly who he is addressing is never made clear. Nor do we gain any real insights into what drives ‘Slips’.

LEGEND is an enjoyable expansion on the 10 minutes play that won Short+Sweet a few years ago. That piece about Simpson’s Donkey is the finale and the highlight of this new show.

Stephen Carnell

Image: Legend! - Slips Cordon (John Derum) – photo by Katy Green Loughrey