Tell her that I love her... Somebody's Daughter Theatre Company directed by Maud Clark. Tuggeranong Arts Centre: Performances and Workshops October 19 to Sunday October 24, 1999. Phone 6293 9099 for details.
The essence of tragedy is that we learn - too late to save the most vulnerable - that we are each responsible for ourselves. We are indeed alone in the universe.
The key to good drama is for the writer, designer, director and performers to work sincerely. Everyone must believe in what they are doing for the audience to believe in the drama. One false note and the trust is broken.
Tragedy sincerely dramatised is both deeply sad and simultaneously uplifting: Tuesday dies knowing that only she can stop herself taking drugs; Jess could not help her, but learns the truth from Tuesday's death. Jess will survive. Every character, like the actresses in this play - Debbie Murray, Donna King, Tara Watson, Sam Davis and Kharen Harper - has been locked up in prison for the crime of needing to block out the pain of abuse. Like Tuesday, many, far too many, real women have died.
Somebody's Daughter helps more survive. Tell her that I love her... helps the rest of us understand, through good scripting and song writing, strong directing, a visually exciting set and acting full of energy.
These brave people invited questions afterwards, saying that by acting out their own stories they felt the message was getting through: they have the same ambitions, the same fears, the same strengths and make the same mistakes as we all do. There, but for the luck of the draw, go we all.
The play made me angry that we "protect" children but deny them love and their right to self-worth; and then jail them when they fail to cope as adults, denying them their freedom instead of helping them to regain the freedom we all deserve - from the violence, sexual abuse, emotional manipulation, financial pressure which we do too little to restrain.
One audience member suggested they perform in Federal and State Parliaments so the lawmakers understand the real impact of their deliberations. I, along with the rest of audience, hope this will be done.
©Frank McKone, Canberra
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