Theatre Review
Eleanor Pearson 10 September 2017 Mission Falters, But Irish Wit TriumphsHunters Hill Theatre’s A Letter from The General is set on an isolated Catholic mission in Communist China in 1950. The play opens with the sound of chirping crickets, and Chinese flutes. As the lights go up, dappled light against the backdrop of bamboo screens, evokes sunrise in the mission common room. The action all takes place in this room over two days.
As the countryside is beset by revolution, the Reverend Mother (played with unassuming dignity by Robyn Williams) is torn between her duty towards the orphans and the Chinese family under her care, and looking after the nuns who work beside her. The mission’s German priest, Father Schiller (Michael Richmond) has been arrested by the People’s Republic Army, and has been tortured, but escaped, and the Chinese orphans forcibly removed from the mission.
“Revolutions come and go, but the Church of God is indestructible.” The Reverend Mother serenely maintains, in the face of certain closure of the mission. |
A Letter from the General |
Meanwhile the British Consul, Arthur Stilton (Chris Clark) has arrived at the mission, with exit visas for all five nuns, and seeking a few days’ shelter for his cynical and unhappy wife, Ruth (Paula Searle), before he returns, to leave the country for good.
The levity of Irish nuns prevents this drama from becoming melodramatic. The nuns’ camaraderie is evident from the beginning. There is much banter about St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things, and taking care of the 32 chickens on the mission. This sense of ordinary life prevailing, despite the grim seriousness of their circumstances, adds to the poignancy of what may unfold.
“Being murdered is melodramatic.” Linda Young's Sister Henry remarks, with no sense of irony.
The levity of Irish nuns prevents this drama from becoming melodramatic. The nuns’ camaraderie is evident from the beginning. There is much banter about St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things, and taking care of the 32 chickens on the mission. This sense of ordinary life prevailing, despite the grim seriousness of their circumstances, adds to the poignancy of what may unfold.
“Being murdered is melodramatic.” Linda Young's Sister Henry remarks, with no sense of irony.
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The elderly Sister Magdalen (Carole Grace) has a special reason to remain positive: The Chinese general, Mei Cheng, once an orphan under her care, is her Godson. As the revolution reaches their doorstep, Sister Magdalen has been writing letters on behalf of the mission and Father Schiller to the general. Will the general respond? And will this correspondence save Father Schiller, and help them all escape?
Carole Grace’s comic portrayal of the good-hearted, but simple-minded Sister Magdalen, belies this character’s depth. |
When the British mercenary, Captain Lee (Dan Ferris) comes to the mission, flanked by Chinese soldiers, he makes his presence violently felt. However, no characterisation is merely black or white. We see the acute vulnerability of Captain Lee, and the opportunistic side of the Reverend Mother, when both feel under threat. The ambivalence and transformation of the embittered ex-pat wife Ruth Stilton are also interesting to observe.
The production values are high. The set design by director Jennifer Willison captures the exotic location, but also the claustrophobia the characters might feel when confined to the mission common room. The costumes by Joanna Simpson are successful; Ruth Stilton’s fashion sense reflects the style of 1950s clothes-horses. Casey Moon-Watton’s sound design and Wayne Chee’s lighting also play key roles in transporting audiences to another time and place.
A Letter From The General plays until September 17, 2017
The production values are high. The set design by director Jennifer Willison captures the exotic location, but also the claustrophobia the characters might feel when confined to the mission common room. The costumes by Joanna Simpson are successful; Ruth Stilton’s fashion sense reflects the style of 1950s clothes-horses. Casey Moon-Watton’s sound design and Wayne Chee’s lighting also play key roles in transporting audiences to another time and place.
A Letter From The General plays until September 17, 2017
Hunters Hill Theatre
Season: 8 September - 17 September Address: 22 Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill, 2110 |
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