The Recruiting Officer

Having very recently reviewed Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good, in which some of the convict characters in an early Australian penal colony attempt to rehearse George Farquhar’s play The Recruiting Officer, this week I reviewed The Recruiting Officer in its own right.

It’s a 1706 ribald comedy set in the town of Shrewsbury. Two officers, womanising Captain Plume and manipulative Captain Brazen, create havoc as they press men into service and attempt to better their own ends through bribery and other dealings. Shillings change hands, characters go in and out of disguise, assignations occur, marriages are plotted and everything goes hilariously awry.

One early production of The Recruiting Officer occurred in a sailcloth tent at Sydney Cove when white settlers first arrived on Australia’s shores (as per the plot and setting of Our Country’s Good, mentioned in the first paragraph above).

Blackwood Players’ production of The Recruiting Officer is a solid one and cleverly extends the concept of that original sailcloth tent. The entire stage of Blackwood 21 is enveloped… sides, back and above…with calico, creating a tent-like effect. Only an occasional table and chairs brought on and off in various scenes adds any additional decoration. It’s simple and it works very well.

Due to the differing levels of experience among the actors, characterisations vary in success, but the overall work is pleasing and it’s good to see Blackwood Players tackling difficult material like this.

The standout performance comes from Ron Densley as Mr Worthy and Costar Pearmain. His energy never flags and his comic timing is marvelous.

Jabez Retallick has excellent moments as Captain Plume and shows a strong talent for comedy. Heather Crawford is sublimely good as Rose and steals the stage whenever present. David Lockwood is excellent as the pompous Justice Balance, while Melanie Remen does well as Sylvia.

Scott Brokenshire often performs for Blackwood Players and grows in confidence with each role. He has a major role as Sergeant Kite and does quite well. Jacqui Hart is very funny as Bullock, a character whose speech is intended to be almost unintelligible. Unfortunately Karina Black as Melinda is also difficult to hear, falling into the inexperienced actor trap of not projecting her voice in the large auditorium. Her stage presence is natural and excellent, if we could only hear her.

Debbie Jeffries is quite good as Lucy, but would create a better character if she didn’t rush her lines. Peter Fry struggles with the character of the simpering Captain Brazen, unfortunately spoiling the characterisation with a rather contrived way of walking.

Director Damien White gives an excellent performance in two minor roles, a servant and a constable.

Like all other South Australian shows that have opened in a week in which the state has suffered blackouts, heavy rain and flooding, Blackwood Players will have struggled to complete final dress rehearsals, but the company has overcome these hurdles. Overall, Blackwood’s production of The Recruiting Officer is enjoyable and worth venturing out on a cold Adelaide evening to see.

Lesley Reed