When the Wheels fall off the World

This is an interesting play about the relationship between and indigenous man and a white girl, set at a time when the world’s social order has seemingly collapsed. Performed in the Cairns Botanical Gardens, the play blended smoothly with the surroundings. Co-author Warren Clements had a strong presence as Will, the indigenous man whose life was so immersed in his culture, while Liza Parker, as Aphra, gave a convincing performance as woman whose social parameters had disintegrated. The other members of the cast were Monique Woldhuis as Liz, who seemingly played a narrator’s role, while violin player Just Meijer provided appropriate background music. The play had amusing contemporary references to the government collapsing, as well as cleverly constructed flashbacks to Aphra’s past. It was impossible to say if the actors had ‘the voice’ because they were so well miked that voices appeared to be coming from the rear of the acting area. According to the program notes the play had many drafts over the years and had been heavily workshopped. This can be a problem sometimes as a play can loose originality. However, the play worked well on nearly all fronts, with Clements and Parker well cast in their respective roles.
Ken Cotterill

Photo: Liz Parker and Warren Clements