Macquarie

Power, politics and religion are a volatile mix. Add to this 'the native problem' and no, this is not Victorian colonial India but Sydney, Australia, two hundred years ago. This is a most exciting adapted, updated reworking of Buzo's 1972 play about one of Australia's founding fathers.

It's the Bicentenary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's arrival in Australia and this is a fresh re-examination of the man and his times. It is one of the major events as part of the Bicentenary celebrations (exhibitions, walks, lectures, dinners etc) at Parramatta. Regarded by most as The Father of Australia, Macquarie promoted the values of exploration (of the country), emancipation (horrifying some) and egalitarianism (shocking others) as he gave convicts a 'fair go' and also tried to help Australian Indigenous People, establishing schools and hospitals. He commissioned over two hundred public works (a lot from convict architect Francis Greenway), establishing Sydney's character. His visionary leadership over twelve years was extremely influential. His story is inextricably linked to ours in contemporary Sydney and is leavened by his compassion, magnanimity and dedication to progress.

The Lennox Theatre configuration has been changed so that the audience sits on two sides with the performance space in the middle. There is a huge long table centre stage - as in Parliament or a long dining table at Government House. It becomes a pool table, the walkway to Mrs Macquarie's Chair and otherwise an elevated platform for some of the action. So at times it's as if we're in Parliament watching the debates perhaps. The show has been updated to include mobile phones, portables TVs, USB memory sticks, TV remotes, projection screens, MacDonald’s burgers etc, which might seem odd but work brilliantly. There are some very neat touches - e.g. the Napoleonic Wars are portrayed as the World Cup. (Goal!) Costumes are a mix of 2010 and 1810-ish and include a nifty Doctor Who bow tie for Greenway.

For us Sydneysiders there are some delightful in-jokes (how many things are now named after Macquarie, moans about how long it takes to get from the CBD to Parramatta) and there is a delightful minor coup de theatre when Greenway produces the Sydney Opera House in orange rind. Buzo' s fresh, exciting and colloquial script is at times cinematic in style with cuts to different scenes. Wayne Harrison's direction is sure and incisive and the great cast have a strong ensemble feel. Most of the cast at times double or triple roles and handle this with great panache.

When we the audience enter, it is like entering a club. At one end the mighty DJ Lord Bathurst (Alan Dukes) representing all things British has us bopping. Contemporary Sydney two hundred years after Macquarie is represented by Russell Smith as teacher Mr Polski who has set his class an essay on Macquarie, At times there is discussion on Macquarie's policies and influences. The play concentrates on the twelve years the Macquaries were here in Sydney. So we see the Governor and his wife's rather shaky welcome on a boiling hot summer day, Macquarie and Greenway's vision of grandeur for Sydney, the fights with the Rev. Samel Marsden : the politics, backbiting and infighting and Macquarie's fall and departure for the UK. Upon their arrival here in Sydney, the Governor and his wife are shown as a glamorous First Couple, and it is set up like a dream TV interview.

Macquarie is portrayed as a golden Hawke or Rudd figure, who is crushed by unhappy scheming Australians. Jack Campbell plays him as an extra super efficient top manager, Caesar -like, with lots of expansive expensive ideas for Sydney's improvement (including the first flushing toilet). However there are problems with his relationships with Australians.

Elizabeth (Mrs Macquarie) is played by Megan Drury as elegant, refined, strongly supporting Lachlan and trying to bury her sense of loneliness and homesickness. She has an impassioned monologue about her life as a politician's wife. Mostly she wears an elegant black pantsuit with a fabulous textured jacket to match.

A love affair is delicately hinted at between her and John Campbell, Macquarie's secretary/PA marvellously played by Graham Harvey. One wonders if anything did actually happen.

We see the Macquarie's enthusiastic friendship with visionary architect Francis Greenway, a convict (shock horror) who Macquarie emancipates and the problems this caused as some were deeply prejudiced against convicts. Greenway is played marvellously by T. J. Power as young, handsome, inspired and a cool surfer and break dancer.

As prominent lawyer Ellis Bent Keng Chan gives a fine performance - we see his gradual deterioration as his asthma gradually gets worse and worse.

We also see Macquarie's stormy relationship with the Rev. Samuel Marsden ('the flogging parson') portrayed by David Whitney as bald and in a tropical white suit. Like Macquarie, Marsden is determined and he is set in his ways and prejudices. Whitney gives an excellent performance, mostly genial but at times slightly mad (his oration at Bent's funeral is an almost mad, offensive rant).

A lowly female servant's story (Mabel, as portrayed by Chantelle Jamieson) is also threaded through the play - in our time, she teases Polski.

An exuberant, fascinating look at one of the major figures of Australia's history.

Macquarie

Dates:
15th July - 7:30pm
16th July - 7:30pm
17th July - 7:30pm
19th July - 7:30pm
20th July - 7:30pm
21st July - 11am
22nd July - 11am
23rd July - 11am and 7:30pm
24th July - 4:30pm and 8pm
26th July - 11am
27th July - 11am
28th July - 11am
29th July - 11am and 6:30pm
30th July - 7:30pm
31st July - 2:15pm and 7:30pm