Ned Kelly's Mother

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Posted 2018-10-25 by Felicity ⇒ follow

Ned is a headliner but his mother is the star. Ned Kelly is a dominant historical Australian figure. A legend accompanied by fuss both throughout his life and how his memory has been reproduced. His reputation was even responsible for shutting down the strong buds of the early Australian film industry. The popularity for dramatisation of a morally corrosive topic did not go down well with 1906 Victorian values.

'The Ned Kelly Gang' is in historical records as 'the longest narrative film, ever seen In the world at that time.' Ned snagging the 'first narrative feature', when paired with the public drama of his life rather typecasts perspectives and reflections on his story into the genre of elaborate production.

at the MC Showroom 23 October to the 4 November reveals a more naturalistic account of the history of the Kelly Gang.

Hidden away in St, Prahran VIC 3181/@-37.8509799,144.9930479,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6ad6682fe5c4bc7f:0x6e686477bd688a8b!8m2!3d-37.8509799!4d144.9952366 Clifton St Prahran The MC Showroom is parallel to the Prahran Town Hall and Library. It is in the direction of Hawksburn, in the opposite direction up Greville St is the Prahran Station.

You go up two flights of stairs into velvet lighting. Reception is to your left, the toilets are to your right. I think this is a common question anyone might wonder on event arrival and I did hear it voiced.

Once you have registered your arrival, you turn left a step and wander up a corridor lined with local art. In this art, you can read elegance and promise. Assurance that this venue values unique perspectives, local talent and Australian identity.

There is a bar that offers white, red wine and beer. There is an offer to taste the wine before purchase and effort shown to make guests feel welcome and comfortable.

From here you enter a Cabaret style theatre. The audience were all older and far more sophisticated in appearance than the topic they had come to hear. Perhaps colonial history does not attract a younger audience when not in feature film format.

The theatre was dimly lit. Like the music in Titanic, the Irish jig got toes and fingers tapping. The opening music whistles like a billy can, bubbling you back into colonial Australia. The projector begins on a black and white prison roof and later shifts into the Australian forest. The lighting in the photograph, that brilliant forest light conveying the warmth of the sun, makes you feel like you have stepped into the 'Drover's Wife' painting. You could even hear the cicadas if you stretched your ears.

The Performance

Meeting Ned Kelly's mother is a very natural feeling. Immediately she is an appealing figure. As you follow her narration, you are carried with her highs and lows. No longer some infamous half sketched body of text in a history book, she becomes as relatable as the person sitting next to you.

There were echoes of my Nan's lullaby voice in her soft tone. You saw a daughter, a mother, a wife and a survivor in her eyes and lips. The animated performance leaves you in sympathy with and highly defensive of Ellen Quinn Kelly. She was a whole lot more than just ''.

The Writer

Australian playwright Nei Cole has made a name for himself tackling history from enlightening angles.

' comes into production at the same the time of the release of a novel Colonel Surrey's Insanity, which is about mental illness. His sensitivity to human experience and empathy towards his characters' situations and experiences is painted in dialogue and production. You leave this show with greater compassion and connection.

More over the top styles of dramatisation of legend often push the past further beyond grasp. Neil Quinn's brings her life experience into our own.

Why this should not be missed.

Australians should not shy away from our colonial heritage. Roots forged largely by displaced immigrants, doing their best to survive in an unsympathetic society.

This unique production strengthens cultural identity. The Kelly's have shaped myths of what it means to be Australian. Their pluck, irreverence and perseverance were forged in poverty, injustice and tragedy. These are tears that need to be brought home to all so we truly value where we have come from and that we are not still there.

Ned Kelly must have really loved his mother and you will too. Eileen Kelly is a pleasure to meet.