Reviews - Our Country's Good: Based On The Novel The Playmaker By Thomas Keneally

36 reviews for:

Our Country's Good: Based On The Novel The Playmaker By Thomas Keneally

This is a great play about a range of issues from discrimination, imperialism, gender divide and class disparity. Set in Australia with the first colonists of convicts who were sent from Britain, Wertenbaker explores whether people can redeem themselves.

This once again, like Richard III, is one of my exam set texts, which I will be assessed on in the coming weeks. I have read this and scanned through extracts so many times now, yet still find is fascinating in so many ways. That alone is testament ad to how great I think this play is.

"The theatre is like a small republic, it requires private sacrifices fir the good of the whole."

It is set in 1789, with the first soldiers and officers taking charge of convicts, attempting to colonise Australia. Wertenbaker uses this time of the British Empire, engaging with issues such as the intention of prison, rehabilitation or punishment, alongside the prominence of imperialism and class divide. These issues are efficiently depicted as a parallel to 1980s England, and the rise of 'Thatcherism', with particular emphasis on the power and importance of theatre at a time when subsidies were being dramatically reduced.

I think that one of the beauties of Our Country's Good is the different perspectives you can look at it from. I can read this in a relaxed manner and just enjoy the story. Or I can examine the social issues explored. Or I can immerse myself in the complex psychological characterisation. It is a play of many layers.

Overall, Our Country's Good is in my opinion a fantastically engaging play with wonderfully sharp dialogue that carries a depth of emotion and meaning that leaves you lingering on the themes discussed long after you have turned that final page.

5/5 STARS

kookykrys's review against another edition

5.0

I was lucky to perform in this play while at university. I loved every minute of it! It is a play for theatre inthusiasts or artists, primarily, but it really is a play for all of us, showing us that life without art or self-expression is no life at all. We are human because of our unique ability to make art.

nicoleoftheisland's review against another edition

4.0

Hard to beat for a clever idea for a play. My edition did not include a character list which was enormously frustrating and the play doesn’t really handle race well, but the central premise is so strong, and the characters clearly a blast to play.

alishadj's review against another edition

3.25

dark funny fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

raphthebard's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Did this play for first year in uni. While I didn't really vibe with it at first, the more I read, the more I enjoyed it. Fave character is Sideway because he might just be me fr. Really makes you think about the power of literature and rehabilitation. Very neat play.