Parramatta Girls

‘Parramatta Girls’ is by the multi-award winning, Redfern playwright, Alana Valentine. This poignant play, with wonderful dialogue, is regularly on the High School Drama Syllabus. Her work earned around a dozen awards, including a 1999 AWGIE Award, a nomination for a 2007 Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work and Best Play and a 2011 Queensland Premier's Literary Award.

This play was first produced by Company B at the Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney in 2007; now this production is proudly presented by the Old Mill Theatre, Corner Mends Street and Mill Point Road, South Perth. Curtain up for this two and a half hour play is 8.00 pm nightly, with shows until Saturday 26^th May. There is a Sunday Matinee at 2.00 pm on the 20^th May.

           We jump forward 40 years to 2003, and a smartly dressed middle-aged woman enters the school courtyard and looks around. She is Melanie (Susan Lynch), who was one of Parramatta’s most streetwise girls and an inmate at this ‘education’ establishment. Soon another, the successful – but at what cost? - Judi (Eva Calderwood) arrives for this school reunion. As they smile and warmly greet each other, another woman their age arrives, she is the distraught and deeply troubled, Gayle (Yvette Wall). Gayle ignores them, preferring to be alone.

          Back in time we see the arrival of the optimistically innocent Marlene (Dionne Hall). Because her parents are struggling to cope financially, the authorities have decided to put her in ‘care’ – and what care! She is soon befriended by two other youngsters, one still considered 'a piece of fauna', young Aboriginal girl, Kerry (Rebecca Garlett) and the sustainer and bright light, Coral (Andrea Fernandez). They fondly care for Marlene.

         Finally, disturbed and distressed, Lynette (Marsha Holt) nervously joins the group. She is very near tears. Repeatedly we return to the schooldays, intended to help mistreated or needy children, however the mental, physical and sexual abuse is prevalent. Some of the girls are ex-remand school, being prepared for the ‘real world’; others were taken from single parents and ‘looked after’ by the male superintendents. The treatment was draconian, with dehumanising brutality resulting in vivid nightmares. There was no love or privacy; many just buried their thoughts deeply. 

       Is there anything that they can do to improve their lot? Why is Maree not at the re-union? Will this get together help acceptance and closure?

I am pleased to see that this play is on the school list, as anyone in their thirties was alive when this obscene school was in still in action. The school changed its name a couple of times after 1974, not closing until 1980, but for the ten generations and hundreds of pupils, it will still be the dreaded Parramatta Girls’ School! For this reason I recommend that the young, as well as the old, see this outstanding production and understand how lucky they are today.

The direction by Finley nominee Siobhán O’Gara, assisted by Mary Wolfla, is exceptional. The pace for these short cameos is punchy and the performances that they have achieved with their extraordinarily talented cast are amazing and faultless. The photographs and the lighting (Geoff Holt and Ben Anderson) help convey the colossal depth of feelings. At 140 minutes, this is not an easy play the watch, but it has some optimism and humour and is certainly one of the year’s best. Try and see it, but take some paper tissues.

Many congratulations to all concerned.

I am pleased that you were offended by the comment in quotation marks. This is the whole point of the play, to show how only very recently this inhuman treatment was being used.

Kerry I am sure will not take offence, as she said it about herself in the play. If you are really offended Walter, then go and let Kerry bring tears to your eyes. She was magnificent.

Get off your bike Wally or wilma P, your tyres flat!

Having  been a Visiting Justice (VJ) I assure you they use more offensive words than that to each other & in general conversation.

Maybe you need to get out 'n about &/or listen into school yard conversations.

While I don't like being called a POHMY (Prisoner Of His (Her) Majesty) Ilegitmous, it is part of the occer slang.

I am sorry that you felt this term was aimed at you personally and not the character you played. This was the label that you received from the author in the play, and sadly is possibly an accurate expression for that time, 40 years ago.

You are an actress playing a part, so please don't get the two mixed up. I used quotes to show that it was the play's character NOT you, or what I felt. I have the highest regard for you as a woman, irrespective of colour or creed.

If anyone used that derogatory term in my presence, I too would have no hesitation in telling them how angry I felt about its use.

When the first Act finished, there was no applause, just total silence. This only happens when the audience are overwhelmed with emotion at what they have experienced. So once again, to you and the others cast members, great credit, the patrons were totally moved.

Kind regards, Gordon

Thank you for your acceptance, your upset really upset me. The choice of words was poor and I have already changed them, I am sure that you will do the part justice again on Thursday x

A silent audience is a sympathetic one on your side.

Kindest regards and good luck for the future.

Gordon

Toi Tio Chookas Kerry! "May you always play to a full House".

  An addage I picked up when I was a wee kid, havung been born into theatre;-  "To suceed in this "Game" of theatre. "It takes at least 90% Attitude, with  the ballance made up of Aptitude & experience.  Of which it seems that you have achieved!

Further it might help if you adopt the adage of;- 'Illegitimi non carborunduim';-

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegitimi_non_carborundum

This might be a good time for "Aunty &/or Grant to revisit the question of validation of membership to this Forum. rather than what we have now!  As yet I have never seen a convimcing argument for not doing so, as is the norm with other sites.

It might be I'm too old & as thick as brick or at  least twice as dence. But I get confused which "WP" that I'm responding too?

Eeh Wye aye marrah!

they say it could take less than just the flap of butterfly wings (in my case an aude chook!) to start a wirlwind in a forrest! I have been flapping away about this since the advent of the site  back when? There must be other ways a poster can remain an 'nonimoose'? Barely understanding 'puters other then switching it on, as in  S.M.O.K.E & it's related therum! 

Sure Jonny, however if I had money in my pocket these days, I'd be wearing someone elses pants!

Well that's what Geordies are renowned to be "a Scot with his brains kicked oot"

Although my ansestors aparently stopped the Scots  march to London at 'Cowens Crossing' (My familly owned the crossing on the River Tyne - near Blaydon) & they ddetoured  via Cumberland. Finding the gates of London open, they turned around & went back home, beyond Hadrians Wall. Thinking it was a trap! Ailough my mothers family orginaly comes from near Alnwick (pronouced An'ick) Castle, where Harry Potter was filmed.

My Granny was born a Stewart = Stewart Royal Clan, Which upset my Grandah's family & disowned him., Because he packed in atending Edinburgh University & married her. I'm sure we could have hoy'd a hamer or two.