Sydney’s Raw-Em Theatre Company presented the premiere Australian production of provocative American playwright Sam Shepard’s latest play, ‘The God Of Hell’. Shepard has always been a critic of the Bush regime, and this is where the play’s satire and venom is directed.

In ‘The God Of Hell’ the lives of an ordinary, mid West farming couple, Frank and Emma, are disrupted by a middle aged man called Haynes who seeks refuge in their home. Haynes has been contaminated by plutonium and has escaped from a top secret facility in the desert to hide in the couple’s basement. Haynes is threatening to ‘spill the beans’ on the facility,when Welch, a slick Government official, comes knocking at the door in seach of him.

The play starts off in quite a naturalistic way however soon turns into biting and sometimes comic absurdism. Shepard has some fun as he develops the play’s fearful, paranoid world. For instance, when characters touch Haynes they become radioactive and blue flashes of lightning flash across the stage.

Thematically, ‘The God of Hell’ is strong and clear. Shepard portrays an America post 9-11 that is aggressively patriotic. Americans have to be totally for their country and what it stands for, or they become outsiders. Amongst all the fear and paranoia, there’s no room for any contrary voices. He portrays the atmosphere as toxic and that America’s great tradition of democracy is threatened.

Robyn McLean’s Raw-Em Theatre’s production is tight and incisive. The performances were strong. Russell Newman played old fashioned farmer Frank who pays as much attention to his heifers as his wife, Emma. Annie Cossins played salt of the earth Emma. I loved Ripley Hood’s out there performance as the pushy, flashy civil servant, Welch. Paul Bertram was impressive as the harrassed, sickly and unfortunate, Haynes.

Mim Pearson came up with a very impressive, solid set of the facia and the living room of the farmhouse.

‘The God of Hell’ was a good night in the theatre, and mixed its dark themes with plenty of comic touches.