Australian playwright Sam O’Sullivan’s new comedy MCGUFFIN PARK is set in the world of local government politics. I can think of more exciting places to write about. Having covered local council rounds in my early years as a journalist, local councils can be dull environments, though the dinners after council meetings could be fun especially if certain councillors had too much to drink. Anyhow this is the world in which O’Sullivan has parked his play, and he has made a colourful play from it. Quite the achievement.
The play starts, as they mostly do, with a dramatic turn of events. The sleepy local council of country town McGuffin Park has been rocked by the sudden retirement of their dour, long-serving Mayor, Ken. With midterm elections coming up in a week, will the councillors be able to act quickly to elect a new Mayor.
There is a lot to recommend about this show. Here’s a bit of a list.
The storyline is confidently, intricately plotted. One feels one is in good hands with O’Sullivan.
The play has a likeable, breezy, informal style. Characters are introduced and we learn a bit about them. The action moves quickly so there’s no time to get bored.
It’s fun t0 be spend two hours with a quirky and large mix of characters, played with verve and finess by just five actors; Thomas Campbell, Jamie Oxenbould, Lizzie Schebesta, Eloise Snape and Shan-Ree Tan.
It’s a quite a journey that the main character Fiona goes on, and with Snape’s fine performance we get to sense what is going on for.
Shan-Ree Tan also gives a very fine performance, in particular in his portrayal of Fiona’s friend from childhood, who we learn is a more complex character than we first sense.
The relationship between Fiona and Jack is by far the most interesting relationship developed during the play.
There is a long held acriptwriting theory that the best way to address issues is to coat it with humour. Audiences seem to handle things better this way.
There’s a discourse through the play about the fragility but importance of democracies, and how we have to be vigilant to protect it. As Fiona says at one time; ‘democracy is a contradiction. It is the agreement to live peacefully whilst in constant conflict’. Such a pertinent comment in this year of elections, especially the US elections next week.
There are many Williamson-like lines such as Fiona’s comment, ‘She’s not the first person to break up with someone and then fly straight to Bali. Flight Centre practically offers that as a deal.”
I enjoyed the way that the play made some bold choices such as including the German playwright Bertott Brecht as a character in the play. I didn’t really get this ‘discourse’. I just found the references too oblique, and how many theatregoers evcn know anything about Brecht?!
Mark Kilmurry’s direction was assured and he clearly relished the process of bringing the script to life on the stage. There is good work by his design time; Simon Greer on set and costumes, Trudy Dalgleish on lighting, and Jessica Dunn’s soundscape in putting together to the stage world and now it is the task of the cast to bring it to life with every performance.
There is a bit of a quibble about the ending which I felt was a little overcooked and could have been sharper.
Still, one of my favourite shows of the year.
This a free spirit kind of a play, and I loved this about it.
Sam O’Sullivan’sMCGUFFIN PARK is playing the Ensemble Theatre, 98 McDougall Street, Kirribilli intil the 23rd November 20
Production photography by Prudence Upton.