Our Country's Good: Based on the Novel the "Playmaker" by Thomas Kenneally (Student Editions)

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Liz and the others are let out of jail and allowed to rehearse. However, Liz has been sentenced to death, having refused to plead her innocence during her trial. To rectify this, Phillip meets with her, Judge Collins, Ralph, and Ross. Eventually, Liz admits she didn’t defend herself because she didn’t think anyone would listen to her—an idea that deeply troubles Phillip and Collins, who want to create a just judicial system. Finally, Liz insists that she steal food, and Collins grants her a retrial. In the play, Major Ross is cruel to the convicts. He's completely opposed to the play, and he ridicules Ralph for it. Midshipman Harry BrewerLater, in 1989, a prisoner by the name of Joe White was moved from Wormwood Scrubs to Blundeston prison where he took part in a performance of Our Country’s Good. Wertenbaker said that the play had come “full circle”. In Our Country’s Good, Wertenbaker explores how drama and language can be a refuge from the hopelessness of the grim conditions of supposed rehabilitation facilities and comments on the ineffectiveness of the justice system in reintegrating inmates into society. Captain Watkin Tench, RM: Tench is an officer who dislikes all of the convicts for the simple fact that they are convicts. Whenever he has a comment to make about them, it is always a sarcastic aside. He does not believe in the redemption of the convicts, nor in the fact that they can be converted from their criminal ways. He regards all of the convicts as barbarians, stating that hanging is "their favourite form of entertainment" (Act One, Scene Three). Lieutenant George Johnston, RM: An officer most famed for his "compassion, if not to say passion" (Act One, Scene Six) for the convict women. The real Johnston lived with a convict named Esther Abrahams and later took part in the Rum Rebellion. Wisehammer was arrested for stealing snuff. He claims he is innocent and struggles to fit in with Liz Morden and Ross’ anti-semitism. He taught himself how to read and is widely knowledgeable in many areas. He writes an alternate prologue to the play (which contains the title “Our Country’s Good) but Ralph rejects it as it would upset the officers. He wishes to stay in Australia after his release and write plays. Mary Brenham have an awareness of how their design will impact on the live performance as a whole. The performance of Extract 3

In the play, Mary is a shy young woman who's a convict because she was caught stealing. Her friend, Dabby Bryant, drags her to the audition for The Recruiting Officer. Mary impresses Ralph, and he casts her in one of the leading roles. She's one of the only convicts who can read. Mary falls in love with Ralph and dreams of her future with him. Captain Watkin Tench Metamorphosis (in Three Theatre Adaptations from Franz Kafka, Amber Lane Press – ISBN: 978-0906399842) Mary is rehearsing on her own. Ralph joins her. Reciting their lines in the play, they end up confessing their love. they answer on for Section C ie the live production seen cannot be one of their set plays. Component 2: Creating original drama When it opened at the Royal Court, Wertenbaker was awarded an Olivier award which was shortly followed by nominations for six Tony awards on Broadway. Much of the success of the play can be attributed to its exploration of what it means to be human. Wertenbaker used the context of 18th century transportation to explore human morality in extreme circumstances. Out of this emerges horrendous cruelty, which Wertenbaker describes as the extreme lows of humanity, and remarkable survival, the extreme highs.

Collins was sent over to be the judge in the colony. He always converses from a legal standpoint and justifies all his answers. A key moment in the play is when Collins conducts a vote to determine whether or not the play goes through. He sides with Ralph Clark in this vote and helps him throughout the play. Captain Watkin Tench In 1787, a fleet of ships carrying over 700 convicts set sail on an eight month voyage. When they arrive in Australia, their survival is by no means certain: supplies are running out, the convicts are stealing food or trying to escape and the guards are threatening mutiny. Caesar is originally from Madagascar and wishes to join the play. After begging for a role he ends up being Worthy’s servant (A silent part) and beats the drum for Kite. Despite all this, he ends up getting stage fright and needs to be threatened by the other actors in the play. Ketch Freeman Ralph is an officer that is trying desperately to get a promotion. He tries to take on every responsibility so when he hears about the play he immediately agrees to direct and organize it. He starts off shy and scared of women but grows into a character who falls in love with a convict and becomes more and more assertive. His attitude towards the convicts changes, heavily influenced by Phillip and he ends up treating the convicts far better. Second Lieutenant William Faddy

The Aboriginal Australian appears throughout the play to show his changing reactions towards the British colonisers. At first, he is curious, but by the end of the play, he's dying of smallpox that the outsiders have brought to his land. Other CharactersIn the hold of the convict ship Sirius, the convicts witness an (off-stage) flogging and express fear about their future. In Sydney Cove, an unnamed Aboriginal Australian witnesses the arrival of the first fleet. Throughout the play, he comments on the British settlement's effect on the indigenous populations, reacting with curiosity, confusion, and finally fear. Each student's contribution to the final devised performance is marked out of 20. Guidance on devising The succession of short scenes in varied locales has become a familiar way for contemporary dramatists to construct a complex plot. In production, My Country’s Good would be performed on a basic set, most likely on several levels, so that one scene could flow into another without interruption. Lighting and simple properties along with period costumes would establish the necessary atmosphere.