Review: Exploring Australia's Past, THE GOLDEN AGE Challenges The Notion That One Society Is Better Than Another

Tuesday 26th January 2016, Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Walsh Bay

Director Kip Williams brings Louis Nowra's THE GOLDEN AGE to life with sensitivity and simplicity. Still as relevant now as when it was written in 1985, based on a blend of fact and possible fiction, this thought provoking work looks at society's ongoing propensity to consider its' ways are superior to minorities, and exposes the devastating results.

Designer David Fleisher has stripped back the space of Sydney Theatre Company's Wharf 1 Theatre to a monochrome palette of grey floors, rough painted walls and an immense pile of black dirt. The ruins of a Corinthian column lay on the mound and small scatters of lighter sand have accumulated at the base of the walls. Composer and sound Designer Max Lyandvert has created a soundscape of tinkling bells, deep earthy rumbles and sweeping strings that color the mood from the lightness of society fundraisers to the mysteriousness of the forest. Damien Cooper's lighting design moves between the shadows of the Tasmanian forest to the starkness of the asylum and the bleakness of wartime Berlin. Whist the set does little to give away the era, Fleisher establishes the era and differences in the groups through the costumes ranging from the indications of wealth and 1930's fashion exhibited by the Archers and the worn out, frayed, 19th century Victorian colonial dresses and work wear worn by the Ayre and her 'tribe'.

The story initially centers on friends Francis (Brandon McClelland) and Peter's (Remy Hii) exploration of the Tasmanian wilderness which leads them to discover a group of people that have been cut off from civilization. The group, led by matriarch Ayre (Sara Peirse) exhibits signs of inbreeding and has developed its own form of communication which seems primitive to the educated young men. Francis' fascination with the 'tribe', in particular Betsheb (Rarriwuy Hick), sees Francis connect to the community and eventually the 'outcasts' are bought back to civilization and in turn studied by Peter's father, Dr William Archer (Robert Menzies).

THE GOLDEN AGE raises the question of the wisdom and arrogance of 'sophisticated' civilizations treating others as inferior when they do not match their ideas of what a developed society should be. Also, whilst not directly expressed, Nowra draws parallels between the government's treatment of these 'outcasts', which originated from European gold miners, to the early settlers treatment of Aboriginal communities and the ongoing efforts to 'normalize' them and have them conform to 'western' culture. He also uses the horrors of World War II to expose that regardless of the advancement of a society, people still need to believe they are better than another group with detrimental effects.

As Francis, Brandon McClelland presents an aware young man who seeks to understand and protect Betsheb and her 'family'. He expresses Francis' growth from a city boy that sees beauty in man-made structures and technology to one that understands that his world is destroying Betsheb's with sensitivity and care but also realism as he becomes aware of the continuing cycle playing out in World War II. Remy Hii presents Francis' well to do friend Peter as a more hesitant, less adventurous character that has a comfortable life that he doesn't want to disrupt by getting too close to the 'outcasts'. Peter's father, Doctor Archer is presented with an inquisitive disposition along with a developing awareness and regret that his need for answers has caused the downfall of Ayre's 'family'.

Matriarch of the 'outcasts', Ayre, is presented with an old world regal air whilst still harboring maternal care for the brood by Sarah Peirse. Peirse captures the blended language with an ease that allows her to make the garbled words sound like poetry even though they make no sense at the start. She has created a unique lilt and a cadence to Ayre's speech tone and patterns which gives hints to the origins of the language that has been developed within their group. Rarriwuy Hick has captured Betsheb's innocence and childlike wonder along with the awakening as she experiences new feelings and emotions following the men discovering the community. She expresses the close bonds and care that the community have for each other as she cares for Stef and Ayre as well as the devotion to Francis with a purity and honesty.

THE GOLDEN AGE is an important Australian work that exposes our collective past as a society as well as asking us to question how we treat people in the future. It challenges our understanding of history and what has been remembered, forgotten, or altered to suit agendas and sensitivities. Williams has presented these complex concepts with a sensitivity and openness whilst allowing Nowra's text and the actors' performance to shine, unfettered by complex sets. This is a wonderful opener for Sydney Theatre Company's 2016 season.

Photos: Lisa Tomasetti

THE GOLDEN AGE

Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Walsh Bay.

14 January - 20 February 2016

To post a comment, you must register and login.