Billy Hughes P.M. – “Dirty Little Rat”

Ex - Prime Minister Billy Hughes at the age of 84 performs as himself in the movie Smithy (Ken G Hall,1946), based on Aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (1897- 1935). History recalls Hughes rejecting Smith’s application back in 1919 to compete for  a ten-thousand-pound prize in the first England to Australia flight. Nevertheless Kingsford- Smith went on to become a national hero and now celebrated forever on the twenty dollar note.

This play is not about Kingsford–Smith, it is about Billy Hughes, written by writer/actor Kevin Summers who performs as prosecutor and director, placing Hughes (Dennis Coard), who dozes off while he waits for his set call, in a mock trial.

Summers has placed Billy Hughes in a fictitious people’s court and wants him to declare himself guilty for his notorious and shameful behaviour. The prosecutor declares Hughes a ‘chronic liar - a common racist who lacks moral character’.

“How do you plead?” asks the prosecutor. Hughes boldly claims he is ‘not guilty’.

Born in London, Hughes spent his childhood in Wales, moved to Australia when he was 22 years old and got involved in the labour movement. He studied law while forging a political career, serving 52 years in Federal politics and seven years as Prime Minister during various turbulent times in Australia’s history. He remains the only leader who governed on both sides of politics. He was controversial and a defiantly bold and powerful individual.

His personal life was just as stormy; not only a known womaniser, he did marry twice. He had six children with his first wife and in his second marriage he had one daughter who he claims he loved more than anyone and who sadly died giving birth to an illegitimate baby.

Summers has written a verbose play  about the “little digger” and his chequered history - a warts and all story.  Hughes in his final confession reveals ‘for a moment there I thought l was nothing but a dirty rat”.

Both performers give superb nostalgic performances, with a special commendation to Dennis Coard who so uncannily resembles this legendary prolific, political scoundrel.

Flora Georgiou

Photographer: Darren Gill