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| Images from the National Theatre web site |
Set in the early nineteenth century, The Secret River tells the fairly simple, yet absorbing, story of the struggle by a family of downtrodden Londoners to build a new life in Australia. They stake a claim to a plot of prime riverside land that has long been the home of the local Dharug people. From here, the rollercoaster of hopes and fears is fairly predictable. But the play conveys a powerful message, as the tension ratchets up, and the family are forced to take sides in the struggle for supremacy between the motley collection of former convicts from Britain and their aboriginal hosts. With a large cast and live music, this Sydney Theatre Company production is a feast for both the eyes and ears. While the spacious stage is quite spartan, the dramatic lighting and the precise percussion conjure up the Australian outback. When the family start digging holes, the sound of spades scraping on hard ground rings out convincingly. The Brits' faces are painted white, as if to emphasise their alien status, while they routinely refer to the locals as "the blacks". In another era of mass migration, this depiction of the disorientation and distrust, that often accompany dislocation, rings true.
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| Images from the National Theatre web site |
Although the acting can be a bit wooden in places, the cast bring plenty of passion and energy to their performances. The chorus don't make very convincing dogs or kangaroos, but they throw themselves into the many different roles they have to play. Much of the dialogue is poignant, while the narration is lyrical and captivating. From time to time, the cast sing, breaking into renditions of Oranges and Lemons and other Cockney classics, as well as Dharug songs, helping conjure up the place and the period. Soldiering on after the sudden death of their original narrator, the production team succeed in putting a sharp spotlight on the human suffering arising from colonial expansion. This heartfelt production of The Secret River deserves the standing ovation the cast duly receive at the conclusion of this two and half hour tragedy. 8/10