The Great Emu War

As a lover of quirky Australian history, I was keen to purchase a script of Xaver Coy’s The Great Emu War soon after its publication. When I heard that Goldfields Repertory Club had a production planned, I grabbed the opportunity to accompany the ITA’s Finley Adjudicators for a trip to Kalgoorlie.

An Aussie comedy in the style of The Castle or Priscilla, it is laconic humour, with a bit of strong language, based around the very real 1932 deployment of Australian troops to fight emus, in the area around Geraldton. A bizarre situation that spurned an even stranger little play.

A picture-perfect exterior of an outback ex-soldier’s cottage was created by Stan Wilson and Brendan Evans and is the setting for most of the action. We also cross to an army office in Sydney, simply but effectively created (even if this did slow the scene changes a little). This production also featured some great props, including a tank (yes … really), the titular emus, superbly created as puppets by Keaton Howe, and a gorgeous kangaroo called Kerry-Anne.

Billy Westlake, homeowner and ex-soldier who loves a wrestle, was played with laconic splendour by Zach Hawke. Lauren Chapman-Holle costumed herself a little too glamorously as fed-up housewife Clementine, and I found it hard to believe the character, but she excelled herself as a free-loving kangaroo.

A fabulous collection of Australian soldiers were played with great comic skills. Shannon Robertson had great centeredness as ruggedly handsome Private Douglas Brown (and was great fun as Emu Ron), Bevan Whelan was an audience favourite both as under-achieving Private Neville Kelly and Emu philosopher Don. Ainsley Nyschen was lovely as Reginald (or was that Regina?) Turner, and as Emu Priscilla.

In higher ranks, Stan Wilson was excellent as fashion conscious Major George Meredith, revealing some great pins, well supported by aide-de-camp Colonel Warwick Katter, nicely portrayed by Jack Sheehan who also played cutest emu Steve.

Great laughs from start to finish, cheekily irreverent and probably unknowingly the World Premiere (author Xavier Coy knows of no other productions), The Great Emu War was a joy to watch. Congratulations to Goldfields Rep for a show that was brave, different and very, very funny.

Kimberley Shaw