The Man from Mukinupin @ New Fortune

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Posted 2013-01-26 by Douglas Sutherland-Bruce ⇒ follow

Sat 09 Feb 2013 - Sat 23 Feb 2013

GRADS have abandoned Shakespeare after eighteen consecutive years of presenting summer Shakespeare in the New Fortune Theatre .

In honour of the University Of Western Australia's centenary year GRADS will open this year's season of works by UWA graduates with The Man from Mukinupin, a Musical Play in Two Acts by one of Australia's most respected authors - playwright and poet Dorothy Hewett.

Born in Perth and raised in the wheatbelt town of Wickepin, Hewett was a graduate of the University of WA, later tutoring there in English. What better reasons could there be for choosing one of her liveliest plays to help celebrate UWA's year?

Hewett wrote some plays specifically for the New Fortune, a number of which were directed by her long-time friend Aarne Neeme, well-loved Perth director, returning to Perth at GRADS' invitation to direct this production, in honour of their friendship.

The Man from Mukinupin, was originally produced by the National Theatre at the Playhouse for WA's 150th celebrations (1979). Neeme is relishing the challenge of adapting it to the New Fortune's open stage.

1912 to 1920, the period of the play, was an exciting era of change in the development and growth of WA and Australia at large, showing the effects of the war on our small rural communities.

As Neeme says, "the importance of WWI for Australia was that it established our nationhood to the world - Australia came of age as did the young people of Mukinupin."

Set in a fictitious south-west country town, The Man from Mukinupin is a joyous celebration, telling the story of Australia's growth, recording a potted history of the early 1900's. All of Hewett's work is a celebration, and a journey.

"Only she could conceive of such things as a harvest festival in a town where the orchards are dying, the salt is rising and it's 114 degrees in the shade." (Ibid)

It is a fantasy with music, quoting freely from Shakespeare's plays throughout, and putting one in mind of his A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The Man from Mukinupin has a disarmingly simple story line, fleshed out with beautifully drawn characters and images. An unmistakable life-force is evident in the inherited memory, hopes, follies and scandals of a small town, and dark goings on at night.

It does not ignore the black stain of genocide in our nation's history. At the same time it is like a marriage feast in which the journey of life is celebrated – the will and the passions, innocence and sin, jostle each other throughout.

For this production, Neeme has attracted a hugely talented cast of local actors, singers and musicians to help realise this GRADS production. His Musical Director is newcomer Anka & #264 ;iki& #263 ;.

The Man from Mukinupin by Dorothy Hewett, directed by Aarne Neeme, runs at New Fortune Theatre, UWA, from 9th to the 23rd February at 8pm - tickets $35 & $25 concession.

Book online at: www.grads.org.au or via email: [email protected].