Broken Valley

‘Broken Valley’ is a magnificent, recent play by one of WA’s leading playwrights, Reg Cribb. ‘Broken Valley’ had a reading at The Belvoir in Sydney in 2009. Out of 150 entrants, it was a finalist in the Griffin $10,000 script competition.

NIDA acting graduate, Reg, has the admirable record of having been awarded two Patrick White Playwrights’ Awards along with numerous State Premiers’ Awards.

Curtin's Performance Studies and the Hayman Theatre Company are pleased to present this ‘Curtin Stage: 1’ production at The Studio, Subiaco Arts Centre, 180 Hamersley Road, Subiaco. The play commences at 7.30 pm nightly until 24^th November.

‘Curtin Stage: 1’ is a new initiative by Curtin’s Performance Studies, so that every year Curtin students will have the chance to present a new Australian play, whilst working with a professional dramatist and a director-in-residence. 

         In her worker’s cottage in the Styx Valley in Tasmania, Lorna (Angela Donlan) sings to herself as she catches up with her sewing. In the forest, her teenaged introverted son, Jimmy (Jack Middleton) is carving a message into the 400-year-old trunk of the forest’s largest tree. The message is a poem to his beloved sister that left his life 10 years ago to the day; life for Jimmy hasn’t been the same since.

        Just as Jimmy is putting away his knife, an older man approaches; it is Frank (Elijah Melvin), Jimmy’s obnoxious, drunken father, who was kicked out of their home by his mother. Because of a serious accident, Frank has just been promoted into the position of woodchoppers’ foreman.

          Deep in the forest three anti-loggers are struggling to keep warm around a small fire. The hefty American greenie (Jesse Daniels) points out that the dozens of other supporters, including all of the women, have gone home. Out of the shadows steps a strange vision, dressed like a colourful Christmas tree (great costumes by Taylor Russert), it is the beautiful, fragile looking, Josie (Rebecca ‘Bubble’ Maynard), but appearances can be deceptive. Josie is a hardened Greenie, who has fought logging for years and knows every trick in the book. When she sees how miserable the three men are, she sets off to the local pub to get cigarettes and drinks for them.

         At the inn she has to fight her way through the angry loggers (Barnaby Pollock, Jim Maxwell) to get to the bar counter.  An argument starts, but with a little help from Jimmy, who has personal reasons for helping her, she gets her order.

The battle is on, but is the real struggle with preserving trees or the personal relationships in this world heritage, glorious valley?

Reg Cribb always writes a fascinating story, and although his last couple of plays have been good they never quite hit the mark of his earlier work, however, ‘Broken Valley’ is a triumph. Reg has developed characters with real and credible depth to them. He has given us personalities that we genuinely want to know more about. The very individual style of dialogue for each person draws the audience into the richly written story. This is NOT a message from the Greenies, rather a study of the complex lives of the forest workers and the people passing through.

Expertly directed by Emily McLean, she has ensured that the cast have encapsulated their personalities. Frank really was a frightening, egotistical bully. Jack Middleton’s portrayal of Jimmy was perfect, with his silence, stooped back and head constantly staring at the ground confirmed the deep turmoil in his mind. Then the foul mouthed Josie, here we have a character that may well be quoted in future conversations just as ‘Effie’ and ‘Kylie Mole’ are years after their TV appearances. Josie is a very complex person and Rebecca was amazing as she embodied this human dynamite.

The rustic set (designed by Fiona Bruce) of mainly of wood cuts and stumps for the forest, with pine fittings in the old house and pub were ideal. David Valent operated the hoist at the top of the tree. The lighting was dim and selective. (Duncan Sharp – operator Erin Craddock) and the sound design creepy and atmospheric (operated by Daniel Tenni).

A very strong cast bringing back hope to the Curtin Hayman supporters, who have been left feeling a little cold over recent seasons. A powerful and emotional play, extremely funny in parts, that is admirably produced and performed. One that I can strongly recommend to everyone – not just tree huggers.