The State of the Tasmanian Economy

The State of the Tasmanian Economy, written by Jonathan Biggins for Blue Cow Theatre, is a comedy marriage made in heaven, set in Tasmania. Playwright and political satirist Biggins was commissioned to write a new comedy play for profit-share theatre company Blue Cow Theatre. The result was a funny, fast laugh-fest for the world premiere production, ideal for an experienced collection of actors.

Biggins is fast with one-liners and Blue Cow actors Scott Farrow as Max, Guy Hooper as The Men, Jane Longhurst as The Women and John Xintavelonis as Steve handle the short, sharp lines efficiently and with their usual excellent comic timing. Max and Steve are two middle-ranking Tasmanian public servants, enlisted to solve the state’s financial woes, and given just four weeks to do it!

John X can quirk an eyebrow and make people laugh, and his delivery of the clever material was superb. Scott Farrow was perfect as the public servant who wasn’t sure why he had been chosen by a Canberra public official to save the Tasmanian Economy. Enter Jane Longhurst, Anna from Canberra, who ‘had something to do with budgets’, although it was unclear about which department.

Quirky characters abound in Tasmania and Guy Hooper hilariously played at least six of them as the Men. Longhurst played two other Women characters, and with the six or so roles by Hooper, costume changes could have been fun backstage for stage manager Matt Andrewartha. Scene changes were slick, thanks to a clever, rotating device, providing a deceptively simple and changeable set designed by William Dowd. Director Robert Jarman held it all together while allowing the actors to have their head. Hooper in particular played for laughs and reliance on the technical aspects of a sliding door. Hilarious!

Forget political correctness – this belly-laugh comedy takes a poke at us: even when Biggins points out our most frustrating foibles he does so with affection and Aussie good humour. Although topically and typically Tasmanian, this wickedly funny play from one of Australia’s most perceptive political satirists could and should travel, and probably lends itself to other states and their special problems and needs. We all need to laugh – see The State of the Tasmanian Economy if you get the chance.

Merlene Abbott