The Sapphires

Entertainment not politics was on Aboriginal playwright Tony Briggs' mind in revisiting 1968. Politics are not Tony Briggs' main concern. They come a distant second to entertainment. The Aboriginal actor and now playwright, perhaps best known for his role in the Stolen Generations play, Stolen, stresses several times that his first play, The Sapphires, is not about the racist persecution of the 1960s.

"It's a celebration," he says of the play, which tells of a four-woman Aboriginal group on a tour of war-torn Vietnam. Meet the McCrae sisters – four gorgeous singers from country New South Wales whose biggest dream is to become as famous as their Motown idols. It is 1969, and their Supremes cover band is performing in St Kilda’s Tiki Club when the sisters are spotted by a talent scout. Soon they are dreaming of fame, fortune and glamorous international careers.

Instead, these Koori divas find themselves in the war zone of Vietnam, entertaining the troops. Based on the true story of his mother’s and aunts’ showbiz careers, Tony Briggs has created a steamy and swinging medley of the highs and lows of family, love, war and the hottest soul music in the jungle of ‘Nam!

This new co-production by Black Swan and Company B Belvoir of the hit musical The Sapphires is bigger and better than ever, and features a stellar cast led by Christine Anu and Casey Donovan. What Anu has in depth of experience, Donovan displays in boldness and fantastic near first debut for the theatre. She renders spine tingling renditions of classics along with comic acting qualities which make her performance especially memorable.

Wesley Enoch directs this feel-good production full of the Motown classics that defined a generation, and our leading ladies raise the roof of the Playhouse Theatre as they perform such hits as Love is like a Heatwave, Respect and Higher & Higher. The costumes by Tim Chappel are glamorous and cleverly designed to surprise at the finale and are complimented by choreographer Tony Bartuccio elegant moves in turns.

Anu’s character Gail speaks of ‘quality of spirit’ and it is on display in this period musical which received standing ovations with the opening night audience. Responding to the heartfelt words of the talent scout, Dave played with great virtuosity by Oliver Wenn, Gail’s future is secured as is all the McCrae sisters either in matrimony or sibling bonding. I adored the glam, the spunk of this production made possible by all the creatives involved and Perth audiences will not be disappointed at all by this important addition to the canon of Aboriginal entertainment which is adoring fans of indigenous culture found on stage and screen.

THE SAPPHIRES

Currently playing at The Playhouse in Perth