A Noble Cause: Labour Prime Ministers from Watson to Keating

Chris Watson, Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating are vividly brought to life in this delightful collection of vignettes and musical interludes. The journey down memory lane is always a pleasant one but the pathway is littered with both accomplishments and shortcomings and allows Australia’s highly political history to come to the forefront.

The contribution of the Brunswick Young Women’s Players (Josie Coyle, Ella Byrne, Eilen Beaton Ortega) adds a fresh and youthful perspective to the way these labour leaders are remembered. The trio also gives extraordinary renditions of historical tunes that prove extremely evocative. Ortega’s outstanding vocal ability often provides a very emotional dimension to the songs.

Shannon Woollard and Sean Paisley Collins produce some insightful caricatures by capturing both the charismatic and controversial ways each politician interpreted and implemented their vision of labour politics. Their performances are imbued with a precise level of irony to draw out the qualities that elicited great admiration as well as frequent consternation towards these political figures.

The staging is simple but effective, although some more imaginative lighting could have accentuated the emotional impact of the recollections. The play does not seek to idolise these politicians nor to judge their political achievements. It does, however, highlight the militancy and potency of a labour movement that helped to shape and define a strong sense of Australian identity.

Patricia Di Risio