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A young woman, Murran (Miela Anich), and her exasperated mother, Roo (Melodie Reynolds-Diarra), are wandering through the bush, looking for a nearby river. There’s some tension between them, but it feels so much like any tired mother lagging behind, while their enthusiastic child wants to run ahead. Soon, though, it’s clear that there’s much to be mended between these two. And between both of them and the Country they are on.
Gunawarra
Re-Creation by
Isobel Morphy-Walsh was first produced in collaboration with Melbourne Theatre
Company two years ago, as part of a night of theatre by First Nations women,
titled Blak in the Room. The original production was directed by Rachael Maza,
the long-time Artistic Director of Ilbijerri Theatre Company.
This time
around, back at MTC’s Lawler Theatre, the remount is directed by Ilbijerri’s
new Artistic Director, Yorta Yorta and Gunaikurnai woman, Andrea James.
Against the
backdrop of Dann Barber’s evocative set, Morphy-Walsh and James conjure a tale tackling
the conflict between tradition and modern life. A simple but powerful play
about three generations of women, including Aunty Aggie (Lisa Maza), and the story
of Gunawarra – the black swan, played by Hannah Morphy-Walsh.
Movement consultant,
Zoë Brown-Holten, helps all four actors with subtle, graceful movements that
suggest a flock of birds. Hannah Morphy-Walsh’s portrayal of the black swan is
beautifully realised; dancerly movements creating the spread and turn of the
wings or the head. Movement is central to all the performers, though. The
moment Murran and Roo lower themselves into the water feels so real, enhanced by
Katie Sfetkidis’ painterly lighting.
Miela Anich’s
work on Melbourne stages recently – both main and indie – has been so thrilling
and vital, and her performance as Murran here is captivating. The character
struggles with her family history and her relationship to Country, and we are
fully invested in her journey because of Anich’s layered performance. Cheekiness
and thoughtfulness run across the character’s face in equal measure.
The
supporting cast is strong, too. Reynolds-Diarra’s is great as mum, Roo, but her
quick appearance as a coloniser therapist, is hilarious. Maza’s Aunty Aggie is
full of wisdom and a lot of fun. Morphy-Walsh is a real revelation as
Gunawarra.
For a show
that runs just under an hour, it’s rich and thoughtful in ways that some much
longer shows never reach. The combination of a deep love of Country and history,
story and song, reverberates throughout Gunawarra Re-Creation. A second
outing is never guaranteed for any show, so it’s a real treat that this gem has
returned.
- Keith Gow, Theatre First
Gunawarra
Re-creation is
playing at the Lawler Theatre in Narrm/Melbourne until July 11 and then travels
to Djilang/Geelong for July 17 and 18 and then tours to QPAC in Meanjin/Brisbane
in early August
Photography: Jacinta Keefe
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