Mark’s Score 4 stars
Having only a passing knowledge of cricket (the game and its history) I thought I was the only one who knew little about a certain cricket team composed of Aboriginal Australians who toured England between May and October of 1868. They became the first organised group of Australian sportspeople to travel overseas, a feat not to be repeated for another 10 years.
Unaarrimin, a Wotjobaluk man also known as Johnny Mullagh, was the standout player on the team and it is chiefly his story that is central to Black Cockatoo. Mullagh is a local hero to the townsfolk of Harrow, Western Victoria – the very region where the First XI team evolved. Indeed these events and this story make Mullagh an early Australian sporting icon. I wholeheartedly agree with Director Wesley Enoch when he says that “telling neglected stories is what theatre can do so well. Through the insight and emotional renderings of character we can get closer to the human endeavour”.
Enoch has cast using all indigenous actors to play the Australian and English characters. This is a delight to see this on our stages and increases audience’s sophistication is accepting colour blind casting, and gives actors a whole slew of new opportunities in playing anyone. For the stage.is a playground for the imagination and Geoffrey Atherden’s play includes time and place fluidity in order to connect the past, present and the future. As Atherden writes “it is a tale of triumph and tragedy, promises and betrayal”, the struggle that first Australians have had meted out over generations. It is sobering to learn that on the return of The First XI that the 1869 Aboriginal Protection Act in Victoria would almost completely deny the freedom of movement for indigenous people.
The play’s strengths lie in its portraiture of the characters and their relationships. Both writer and director have constructed an amusing trope to bring us back to the world of cricket now and then, but for me it is the human story that touches significantly. Excellent performances are found in the whole cast in particular Joseph Althouse and Chenoa Deemal. Aaron McGrath, a seasoned screen actor tackles his first stage role as Johnny Mullagh with great skill. The production values are exquisite – Richard Roberts Set & Costuming being a standout.
This is a recommended show that touches the heart and inspires the theatre-goer to learn more. Kudos to Ensemble for producing a program (as per usual) that tells you a lot. Come see it you have the desire to be part of uncovering forgotten history and to celebrate the, albeit brief, moment when White Australia seemed to have taken pride in the original custodians of this country. The tragedy lies in the destruction of this potential breakthrough moment when these cricketers were the toast of Britain.
Mark G Nagle, Theatre Now
Photo Credit: Prudence Upton
