CHERRY PICKERS: Gilbert, Touring till 15 June

UK Arts International with The Library Theatre Company, Manchester present
Sydney Theatre Company in

THE CHERRY PICKERS
by Kevin Gilbert

Touring until 15 June
Seen at Northcott Theatre Exeter where it runs until 8 June
Runs 1hr 50 min No interval

TICKETS 01392 493493
Review Hazel Brown 4 June 2002

Moving portrayal of the injustices faced by Aborigines that continues to the present dayThis is the European Premiere of Kevin Gilbert's play, written in 1968 whilst in prison. CHERRY PICKERS was the first written play by an Aboriginal playwright and Gilbert delayed performance until an all indigenous cast was guaranteed. The current cast of nine actors works together as a brilliant ensemble, drawing the audience into their circle of warmth and music, before delivering hard-hitting truths.

The play traces the history of Australia, from its creation by a 'god' with a great Australian sense of humour, through the coming of the white man to the present day. The Prologue sets the audience in the role of witnesses or jurors to understand the malice and injustices that have been wrought. The oppression begins with the arrival of the white fellas using murder, poisoning, land seizure, destruction of culture, language and denial of basic human rights to grind down the black fellas. Gilbert also examines how, robbed of their old culture, his people need to face the future.

It is a powerful piece of theatre, peppered with rich humour – the refuge of a desperate and poor people trying to cope with life.

The two most moving performances are given by Lillian Crombie as Subina, the last princess of her tribe, and Elaine Crombie as Ettie, a pregnant woman who fears that the new life she carries will be snuffed out like that of her previous children through poverty and starvation.

The precariousness of the lives of these itinerant workers, assembled to pick the doubtful cherry crop, is evoked by the set, littered with car seats arranged around a campfire. They await the arrival of their 'leader', Johnlo, to start the picking and bring some joy and financial reward into their lives. The final scene, as they drape the Aboriginal flag over the dead cherry tree, sees them come together as a force for the first time to demand what they need the most, land rights.

Cast:
Chucksa: George Bostock
Phonso: Luke Carroll
Bet-Bet/Ettie: Elaine Crombie
Subina: Lillian Crombie
Bubba: Margaret Harvey
Private: David Page
Zeena: Tessa Rose
Tommlo: Rod Smith
Emma: Pauline Whyman

Director: Wesley Enoch
Designer: Stephanie Blake
Lighting: Mark Pennington
Composer/Music Director: Wayne Freer

Tour Details:

Northcott Theatre, Exeter: 4-8 June
Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham: 11–15 June

2002-06-06 23:55:08