Sad Digger Mad Mary

Did the Digger abandon his post or was he dismissed because of his sexual orientation? Was the Australian army in Gallipoli, or were the soldiers in a different conflict? It was not quite clear but irrelevant; whatever the reason for leaving and wherever it was set, Sad Digger Mad Mary highlights the all too often recurring theme of hypocrisy and non-acceptance of diversity, especially accentuated in extreme circumstances such as the military.

The stereotypical soldier, the ‘National Identity’, is painted rigidly to fit a certain mould of man; the model of manhood is defined by masculinity and mate-ship. What is neglected in all of this narrow mindedness is that this model can very well fit any man, regardless of their sexuality.

It’s all continuous madness, and Tom Halls, writer and performer of Sad Digger Mad Mary, tells us of this lunacy, with candidness and humour. No longer playing it safe, this play speaks with strength and clarity about the prejudice against homosexuality; of the betrayal of those you thought were close to you. But it also offers optimism; a spirit that can not be broken, can push forward and rise above all of this negativity to reach the heights of ‘perfection’.

This one-man show takes us through many windows of memories; from the army camps where the viciousness ruminates, to the attraction between two lovers, ultimately to a soldier who has had to escape the barracks and survives in a bush shantytown with only his dog Bluey as his companion and a billy always on the boil. He is mentally preparing to re-assimilate back into a society that holds promise of a shamed family for a son who has left the army and for the very reason he had to leave. 

The stage setting is very appealing, with a little man-made hut centered in the room and the few hilarious props; Bluey, the red dog (of course), is a stuffed animal on a skateboard. I loved it, he comes to life in this ridiculous form. Then there’s a rug that says “Welcome Back Homo”, very funny. One can laugh at the hilarity of small minded attitudes that still prevail and are perpetuated in stereotypes we have created of our national heroes.

Halls throws into the mix the crazy Mary Poppins character, hat and umbrella at the ready; she makes an appearance with the brewing of a storm.  I was sure she was going to fly. The elasticity of Halls’ acting of each vibrant character, the moments of sadness and horror juxtaposed with the humor is brilliant. The room is filled with energy. 

Sad Digger Mad Mary is very witty and fun and at the same time very sharp in the gravity of its message. I like the direction that Virsik takes; there is a lot going on all the time, lots of movement and mood changes that are so well executed.  Tom Halls is such a talented young artist; a delight to watch and Sad Digger Mad Mary is a very well crafted piece. I feel it reflects hope that those that discriminate and judge may finally become the minority.  Let’s hope so.

Lisa Romeo