Rolling Thunder Vietnam

This concert grabs you by the ears, and by the heart and doesn’t let go.

The first thing to strike me was the phenomenal surround sound of the Sydney Coliseum Theatre. It allowed the audience to appreciate the band, under the direction of Chong Lim, which nailed one ‘60s and ‘70s rock song after another, from artists raging from The Rolling Stones to Simon and Garfunkel.

Thrashing guitar solos were just as thrilling as the singers who were also all in very fine form.

The concert drama is on a Covid disrupted return national tour, after debuting in 2013. Writer Bryce Hallett has blended actual letters written back and forth from active servicemen to their families with the soundscape of the era.

The lyrics of the songs neatly match the narrative, none more so than “We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place” by the Animals.

The character of Johnny (Tom Oliver) is from the country and is keen to serve in the Vietnam, but finds the training and reality of war crushing. He leaves behind a devoted girlfriend Sarah (Brittanie Shipway) who is confronted by anti-war sentiment at home. 

Andy (Christian Charisiou) loses the lottery and is drafted. In Vietnam the Australian soldiers meet an American soldier Thomas (Jerrod Smith).

The soldiers face temptations and moral dilemmas on their tour of duty as do their partners at home.

A fascinating insight was a focus on middle class housewives who formed an organisation SOS (Save Our Sons) who became unlikely anti-war protesters.

Breathing reality into the concert were projected images on large video panels that backdropped the set - of newsreel footage from the time, and the occasional 60’s psychedelic touch. A highlight was a zoom in on a baby’s eye which morphed into dazzling flowers.

A final projection was a montage of the faces of soldiers who fought in Vietnam. Rolling Thunder Vietnam deftly walked the tightrope of showing the futility of the war and sympathising with the soldiers who were sent there. In a nice touch at the curtain call, veterans in the audience were thanked for their service.

David Spicer

https://www.rollingthundervietnam.com/