WoNDERLaNDS ****1/2

“WoNDERLaNDS’ by multi-award winning writer Katherine Thomson, is showing at the Victoria Hall, 179 High Street, Fremantle until 1st July. It is presented by BHP Billiton, Nickel West and Deckchair Theatre.

Remote station farmers, Cathy (Angela Campbell) and Lon (Luke Hewitt), are preparing for their daughter’s wedding to Tom (Scott Jackson), when an official letter arrives regarding Aboriginal Land Rights. Edie (Margaret Harvey), an old Aboriginal friend of the family, suddenly becomes a pariah as the fight begins.

On several occasions, we are taken back 70 years to an earlier generation on the same land, when Alice (Samantha Murray) was the land owner, and Jim (Kyle Morrison) was her station hand.

A couple of friends commented to me that they were not looking forward to hearing the Land’s Rights issue flogged to death yet again, but this play was far from a lecture, it was a superbly written piece, at times almost poetic. It was filled with humour and with several little side tales going on at the same time. There is emotion and excitement, tension and fun. It shows the attitude of the landowners to the 'Black Fellas' in the 1930’s compared to today and makes the audience wonder which era had the most harmony.

Luke Hewitt, an ideal choice by Angela Chaplin for the part of the struggling farmer, was at his best when tackling Edie. Margaret Harvey, whom I saw recently in ‘Ghost Writer’ playing a distraught, withdrawn mother who had lost her child – and no doubt in line for an award for that part - now in WoNDERLaNDS shows the scope of her acting where she is powerful and humorous.

Bryan Woltjen’s set of corrugated iron and plastic roof sheeting, convincingly created a simple home with the mountains around. Some of the action took place high up on the hillside! Sensitive lighting by Andrew Portwine.

A big surprise, good original story, with excellent dialogue and characterisation. Strongly recommended.