November
9, 2013
A small
audience hugged burnt red plastic formed seats in the Simley Theatre at Hamline
to watch Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker. “Set in 1788, Our
Country’s Good focuses on the first European inhabitants of a pen colony in Australia who
stage an unlike production of a popular British comedy. Although historically
accurate, Our Country’s Good speaks to contemporary issues, interrogating
hierarchies power, the politics of sexual subjungation, and the idea that
theatre can serve as a source for personal and communal transformation.”
As I
slouched in the chair, I considered the actors, college students, loaded-down
with classes, hitting the books at the library, writing term papers, juggling research
stints, work study, additional jobs, riding mass transit, making some time for
friends and social events with other Pipers. I am in awe of their commitment,
learning lines for several characters each and tackling British and Aboriginal
accents. We need to support the arts, the campus activities and our incredibly
talented offspring.
No comments:
Post a Comment