What Was That?
Step through the doors of history and prepare to be utterly transported. In this riveting 90-minute two-hander, the extraordinary true story of one of Victorian history’s most eminent families, the Chirnsides, bursts thrillingly back to life. Performed within the lavish grandeur of Werribee Mansion itself—the very estate the family built—this immersive production unfolds in the very rooms where ambition, power, and legacy once played out. The result is theatre that doesn’t just tell history, it resurrects it before your eyes.
Audiences are invited to wander through the remarkable spaces of Werribee Mansion, discovering not only the splendour of the grand estate but also the unseen rhythms of the lives that sustained it. This engaging theatrical promenade is led by two guides drawn from history: Maggie, the devoted head maid to Mary Chirnside, and the increasingly inebriated Mr Duncan, the self-assured “man of the house.” Their lively banter, sharp humour and effortless chemistry make the past feel disarmingly immediate, turning historical figures into vivid, recognisable personalities.
The evening begins in the mansion’s billiard room, where an eccentric menagerie of taxidermy immediately sets the tone. Among the curiosities are an elephant’s foot once repurposed as a drinks cooler and a mounted hippopotamus head the children were said to climb upon—macabre relics that offer a glimpse into the peculiar amusements of colonial wealth.
From here, the audience is ushered through a series of magnificent rooms, each revealing another fragment of life within the mansion. In the drawing room, a stately grand piano evokes the refinement expected of polite society, while the library provides an amusing diversion when Mr Duncan proudly displays a curious invention: a moustache cup designed to protect a gentleman’s carefully waxed whiskers from the perils of hot tea. The journey continues through the grand entrance hall, past the sweeping staircase and into the imposing dining room, where echoes of lavish dinners and social ritual seem almost tangible.
Yet the performance does not linger solely in luxury. Audiences are soon guided behind the façade into the servants’ quarters and kitchen, where the contrast between opulence and labour becomes starkly clear. Here, the invisible workforce who maintained the estate emerges from the margins of history.
The narrative takes a darker turn in the private bedroom of elderly Mrs Chirnside, whose life ended tragically at the age of eighty-two after her hair caught fire from a candle; she died three days later in hospital in Colac. The tour then moves to the laundry, the site of another sorrowful chapter: the death of Thomas Chirnside, who took his own life amid the pressures of sweeping land reforms that threatened the dominance of the great squatting families.
The evening concludes in the mansion’s saloon—once the vibrant centre of its social life—where guests are offered a glass of sparkling wine or a soft drink. As a final, poignant gesture, Maggie sings “Greensleeves” in the resonant vestibule, her lyrics re-imagined to honour the loyal staff who served the estate for decades, many quietly dreaming of one day returning home to Scotland.
Through lavish rooms and shadowy back corridors, the performance unfolds like a living tapestry of the past. With each step deeper into the mansion, audiences are drawn into the private world of the Chirnside family and the loyal staff who quietly sustained their vast household. Rich with intimate storytelling, the experience blends wit and warmth with moments of genuine suspense—complete with the occasional jump scare and more than a few skeletons rattling in the proverbial closet. The result is a spellbinding journey where humour, tragedy, and remarkable human resilience collide, bringing history thrillingly and vividly to life.
Scottish-born playwright, actor, producer and director Alaine Beek stands as a formidable force within Australian theatre. Since founding Essence Theatre Productions in 2003, she has built an impressive body of work that combines historical insight with vivid storytelling. Besides her acclaimed production of What Was That? her other writing achievements include The Dress, The Yellow Line and Jack & Millie (which has toured extensively throughout Victoria and New South Wales). Yet Beek’s creative prowess extends far beyond the page.
On stage, Beek is magnetic. As Maggie, the mansion’s indomitable head maid, she commands every moment with sharp comic timing, expressive physicality, and nuanced emotion. Equal parts witty and vulnerable, Maggie emerges as the household’s anchor — a character alive with strength, loyalty, and humanity, drawing audiences irresistibly into her world. One of the audience’s standout moments came when Maggie tiptoed into a darkened room, let out a blood-curdling scream… and then sheepishly apologised: “Sorry, false alarm!” The audience erupted in laughter, completely delighted by the unexpected twist.
Ross Daniels, a stalwart of Australian entertainment for over 35 years, brings Mr Duncan to life with irresistible charm. The self-styled “man of the house” teeters between authority and absurdity, his rigid manners slowly undone by a comedic descent into inebriation. Part raconteur, part comic foil, he guides audiences through the mansion, revealing the quirks, secrets, and eccentricities of the Chirnside household. Witty, flawed, and vividly human, Mr Duncan embodies Edwardian society with flair and humour.
Beek and Daniels share electric chemistry, their banter effortlessly spontaneous and natural. Even in moments of disagreement, a genuine warmth and mutual respect underpins their interactions, making their relationship both compelling and deeply believable.
That What Was That? has been captivating audiences for over 20 years is a testament to its enduring brilliance. Perfect for a date night, a gathering of friends, or out of town visitors eager to experience history like never before, the show delivers it all—sharp wit, mischievous comedy, spine-tingling surprises, and an immersive journey through the hidden secrets of Werribee Mansion.
Don’t just learn history—step inside it and live it.
Jonathan Cox
Photos Supplied
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