Our Country's Good
UK Tour - Prior to West End Transfer
Reviewed at the Watford Palace Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 6th December 2012
Australia, 1789. An ambitious young lieutenant, Ralph Clark, is set the task of directing newly arrived convicts in the Restoration comedy The Recruiting Officer in celebration of the King’s birthday. But with a dispirited cast, just two copies of the script, opposition from sadistic officers, a leading lady who faces the gallows, and Ralph’s uncontrollable passion for one of his convict players, Australia’s first theatre production is in trouble from the start.
Our Country's Good is perfect. When reviewing shows I always like to highlight a productions good and bad points, no matter how much I enjoy or dislike it. However, Our Country's Good is perfectly written, perfectly directed and perfectly performed. It is faultless.
This is the second time Max Stafford-Clark has directed Our Country's Good. He first directed a production at the Royal Court Theatre in 1988, winning the Olivier Award for Play of the Year. It is safe to say he has done a marvellous job.
It was refreshing to see most of the actors playing multiple roles, something we don't see enough of. It means as an audience we get to see different sides of the actors. We accept that an actor can play more than one character meaning it adds to the magic of theatre. Somehow the play manages to stay relevant, despite being set such a long time ago.
Dominic Thorburn does a spectacular job at leading the cast as Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark. Other stand out performances came from Ian Redford, who was hilarious as Shitty Meg, Lisa Kerr as Duckling Smith and Matthew Needham as Robert Sideway.
I loved Kathryn O'Reilly's interpenetration of Liz Morden. You could tell how engrossed the audience became in her storyline and how much the audience fell in love with Liz. Helen Bradbury was outstanding as Dabby Bryant. She kept her performance very simple, not going over the top, which was very clever. She seemed somewhat intriguing and each time she was on-stage I always wanted to know more about Dabby.
This production of Our Country's Good is unmissable. I would not put this show into one particular genre. It has a bit of everything, but most importantly it does everything to the highest standard possible. The comedy is hilarious, yet the drama is heart breaking.
Our Country's Good is currently coming to the end of its UK Tour. The final stop of the tour is at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from 14th -24th November. Then the production will transfer to the West End's St James's Theatre from 30th January - 9th March 2013.
Visit www.stjamestheatre.co.uk to book tickets for the strictly limited West End run.
Our Country's Good is perfect. When reviewing shows I always like to highlight a productions good and bad points, no matter how much I enjoy or dislike it. However, Our Country's Good is perfectly written, perfectly directed and perfectly performed. It is faultless.
This is the second time Max Stafford-Clark has directed Our Country's Good. He first directed a production at the Royal Court Theatre in 1988, winning the Olivier Award for Play of the Year. It is safe to say he has done a marvellous job.
It was refreshing to see most of the actors playing multiple roles, something we don't see enough of. It means as an audience we get to see different sides of the actors. We accept that an actor can play more than one character meaning it adds to the magic of theatre. Somehow the play manages to stay relevant, despite being set such a long time ago.
Dominic Thorburn does a spectacular job at leading the cast as Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark. Other stand out performances came from Ian Redford, who was hilarious as Shitty Meg, Lisa Kerr as Duckling Smith and Matthew Needham as Robert Sideway.
I loved Kathryn O'Reilly's interpenetration of Liz Morden. You could tell how engrossed the audience became in her storyline and how much the audience fell in love with Liz. Helen Bradbury was outstanding as Dabby Bryant. She kept her performance very simple, not going over the top, which was very clever. She seemed somewhat intriguing and each time she was on-stage I always wanted to know more about Dabby.
This production of Our Country's Good is unmissable. I would not put this show into one particular genre. It has a bit of everything, but most importantly it does everything to the highest standard possible. The comedy is hilarious, yet the drama is heart breaking.
Our Country's Good is currently coming to the end of its UK Tour. The final stop of the tour is at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from 14th -24th November. Then the production will transfer to the West End's St James's Theatre from 30th January - 9th March 2013.
Visit www.stjamestheatre.co.uk to book tickets for the strictly limited West End run.
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