“Our Country's Good" at Augustana College -- May 9 through 12.
Thursday, May 9, through Sunday, May 12
Augustana College's Brunner Theatre Center, 3750 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island IL
A six-time Tony Award nominee and recipient of the 1988 Laurence Olivier Award for Play of the Year, the lauded Broadway hit Our Country's Good enjoys an area-premiere staging at Rock Island's Augustana College from May 9 through 12, this theatrically adventurous drama adapted from the Thomas Keneally novel The Playmaker, and hailed by the New York Times for delivering “the redemptive power of theatrical make-believe."
Written by Timberlake Wertenbaker and inspired by the historical events surrounding the “first fleet” of British convicts sentenced to transportation to Australia in the 18th century, Our Country’s Good follows second lieutenant Ralph Clark as he decides to stage a play in order to rehabilitate the criminals who have arrived at the penal colony in New South Wales. Choosing the theatre piece The Recruiting Officer by George Farquar, the ambitious Ralph forms up a motley cast of convicts, each with their own motivations for joining the play. Rehearsals are interrupted, however, when an escape attempt lands half of the cast in prison. Yet the compassionate Governor Phillips advocates for the play to continue, believing that Ralph’s efforts can re-educate the convicts, no matter what their crimes. Set against the backdrop of the British colonization of Australia, Our Country’s Good explores themes of empathy, humanity, and justice, and resolves with a message of hope and redemption for all of the convicts, as well as for Ralph himself.
Directing Our Country's Good is Augustana's longtime Professor of Theatre Arts and department Co-Chair Jeff Coussens, whose recent productions for the college have included Tartuffe, The 39 Steps, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Emma Watts serves as Coussens' assistant director, with additional members of the show's creative team including: stage manager Jean Tegtmeuer; assistant stage manager Kaden Micklos; dramaturg Katie Sanders; scenic and projections designer (and Reader theatre reviewer) Roger Pavey Jr.; costume designer and costume shop manager Becki Arnold; assistant costume designer and hair/makeup designer Anya Giordano; lighting designer and technical director Mike Turczynski; assistant lighting designer Sean Halloran; sound designer Chris Celius; assistant sound designer and sound board operator Caley Larkin; props master Sarah Thul; master electrician Sean Halloran; light board operator Leah Pim; run crew Nhi Nguyen; and wardrobe head Myles Smith.
With Lucas Osborn portraying second lieutenant Ralph Clark, an additional nine student talents – Lydia Benesh; Maggie Caliendo; Aniyah Davis; Max De Buys; Kallil Ewan; Ulan Okai; Sora Richter; Addon Rodgers; and Aubrey Sibli – complete the Our Country's Good ensemble, and all of them portray more than one role in Wertenbaker's play.
Our Country's Good runs in Augustana College's Brunner Theatre Center from May 9 through 12, with performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $10-15, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)794-7306 and visiting Augustana.edu/tickets.
