The White Divers of Broome

Hilary Bell’s solidly written script is set in Broome, 1912, with the local pearl industry holding out against the White Australia Policy. The plot follows “The White Experiment”, a trial of white divers from the British Navy working with the ethnically diverse pearl fleets. The larger issues associated with this radical step are examined through characters which each capture the perspective of a point within the social or historical debate.

The well-chosen ensemble cast demonstrated intelligent interpretations that were rich with humanity despite the cumbersome abstractions their characters each represented. The exception was the Malay tender, Bin Mahomet, who was ambiguity incarnate in a deft portrayal by Kenneth Moraleda.Pigott (Ian Toyne) was the personification of capitalistic enterprise, devoid of conscience or scruple and lacking any patience for fools. The three British divers embodied various motivations to participate – high minded idealism from Stuart Halusz’s Webber, hopeful greed from Sanders (Tom O’Sullivan) and compulsion in the case of the homesick Beasily (Sean Hawkins).

Various townsfolk demonstrated Broome’s reliance on the continued profit of the pearling industry, while the young journalist from Melbourne reporting on proceedings was stridently portrayed by Jo Morris, ambitiously striving to improve the world. The Japanese divers and their community were touchingly portrayed through expert diver Nishi (Yutaka Izumihara) and his wife Yukiko (Miyuki Lotz), with their collective hard work and drive to secure a future income source for their impoverished village. The local Aboriginal population was given a voice through Pigott’s daughter, Daisy (Kylie Farmer [Kaarljilba Kaardn]), seeking recognition and apology and finding only rejection and denial. The abstract was made personal and accessible, developing into grand, yet deeply human, schemes of revenge and destiny.

Women characters were given a particularly strong voice in a narrative that could easily have focussed on a handful of men, with Lotz, Morris and Farmer making the most of three intense roles. Lotz was the epitome of determined strength, Morris young idealism still possessing the capacity to change and embrace other points of view, while Farmer conveyed deep patience and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Black Swan’s gifted technical staff once again impressed with costume, lighting and set design. The period costumes were appropriate without being a gimmick, and worked within the play to create beautiful tableaux. The lighting complemented the action and ambience, with wonderful underwater and bush scenes brought to life. Based around the bare bones of a wooden ship, the set was amazingly versatile, with smooth transitions throughout – sheer genius led to the creation of one set capable of believable service as a bush graveyard, a ballroom and the depths of Roebuck Bay.

The White Divers of Broome was solidly safe dramatic entertainment. The issues and themes were clear cut and strongly portrayed and the ending brought satisfying resolution on all levels, with characters who had not undergone redemptive epiphanies and reformation receiving their just come uppance. The strength of the script in neatly delineating key issues and giving each of them closure was also its weakness, lacking shades of grey in a politically correct consideration of the play’s themes, the moral code applied being as much of its time now in 2012 as the White Australia Policy was a part of its time and place in 1912. The tidiness of the ending contributed to the ultimately forgettable nature of The White Divers of Broome, despite the visual feast of its presentation.

Perth International Arts Festival presents
The White Divers of Broome

Written by Hilary Bell
Directed by Kate Cherry
Set Designer Bruce McKinven
Costume Designer Alicia Clements
Lighting Designer Trent Suidgeest
Sound Designer Ben Collins
Performed by Caitlin Beresford-Ord, Nick Candy, Adriane Daff, Kylie Farmer (Kaarljilba Kaardn), Michelle Fornasier, Stuart Halusz, Sean Hawkins, Yutaka Izumihara, Miyuki Lotz, Kenneth Moraleda, Jo Morris, Greg McNeill, Tom O’Sullivan, Ian Toyne

Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA, Northbridge
28 January–16 February 2012

Bookings: www.perthfestival.com.au