This was a very moving night at the theatre. It started with a smoking ceremony which took place out the front of the Ensemble theatre. Then just before the play proper was about to begin there was a very poignant welcome to country.
‘IBLOCK COCKATOO tells a great story. Did you know that Australia’s first cricket team which travelled to England comprised all indigenous players? And that the team had one star player Johnny Mullagh, indigenous name Unaarramin, His figures were amazing- he scored some 1,698 runs and bowled some 1,977 overs- 831 of which were maidens and took some 245 wickets. Im statistics. ‘
This story reminded me of the service of indigenous people in wsr zones, a fact that had largely been ignored until recently.
The sad fact is as successful as the Australian team was in England, the players came back home to find their circumstance had changed with the Aboriginal Protection Act. restricting their freedom.
The production, well directed by Wesley Enoch, features an all indigenous cast performs all the roles including some ”white fellas”’.
Aaron McGrath plays the modest sporting hero Johnny Mullagh. This is is a fine, well measured performance.
Chenoa Deemal plays the upper class but not snooty Lady Bardwell perfectly who has a soft spot for Johnny ad ends up teaching him English after Johnny confesses to her that he can’t read or write. There’s a hint of a possible romance between them.
Joseph Althouse, and Dubs Yunupingu play activists Brandon and Kimberley as well as a number pf butlers and ladies’ maids.
Colin Smith does well playing the playing the not so ethically minded cricket team manager, Lawrence,
Luke Carroll plays the affable curator of the Wimmera Discovery Centre. where the activists congregate to find out more about indigenous history.
Richard Roberts‘ set design featured a back wall of mini filing cabinets where historical records were kept.
On a final note, in a speech given by Wesley Enoch at the opening night he mentioned that when he was first working with Geoffrey Atherden on the script a cockatoo was looking in, perched on the window sill. Enoch said that he took that as a cue that the play was meant to happen.
Recommended, a world premiere production, Geoffrey Atherden’s BLACK COCKATOOS is playing the Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli until Saturday 8th February, 2020. The show then goes to the Riverside Theatres Parramatta for a short season between the 18th and the 22nd February 2020.
