Despite half the Shire involved
in sporting Grand Finals, Saturday 29th August saw the Jerdacuttup
hall filled to almost capacity with tables of eager audience there to see the
talented Damian Callinan perform the Lost WW1 Diary, a one man show created and
performed by Callinan, and directed by Tim Overton. They were not disappointed!
The Ravensthorpe Regional Arts
Council (RRAC) presented this touring Country Arts WA and Act-Belong-Commit
show in collaboration with the Jerdacuttup Community Association; responsible
for setting up and catering for the night.
The hall was decked out superbly
in camouflaged themed table cloths, camouflage nets, saddles, oils slicks and
even a beautiful old rocking horse (although not so tiny and no emu feather in
sight; it fitted the theme of the night beautifully!) The JCA also provided
delicious gourmet platters to be enjoyed as well as running the bar prior to
the show and a spread of deadly cake and slices for supper.
Damian took everyone on a journey
of hilarity and tears as he acted out the diary of digger “Paddy Callinan”
through his adventures, and misadventures of the First WW. We met delightful
larrikins and laughed at their antics and broke our hearts at their losses. Playful
banter with the audience peppered the story -who knew that our own “Ken
Nomiddlename Norman” himself was part of the seventh? We won’t say why he was
sent home in disgrace…Or that we had a fine pair of twin Welsh whales residing
in Jerdacuttup? Callinan switched from character to character in the blink of
an eye and portrayed each hilarious scene with limited props and amazing
realism. He also demonstrated a fantastic memory and a bit of prior homework by
injecting some local history and activity into the storyline.
Thank you to the volunteers of
both the Ravensthorpe Regionals Arts Council and Jerdacuttup Community
Association for working hard to make this a night to remember, to bus drivers
Kerry and Ian Dickinsen for filling in last minute and our usual driver Robert
Bawden for taking everyone out to the hall and getting them home safely. The
RRAC would not be able to provide free buses for events without the funding
from Lotterywest WA. As our last show of the year, RRAC would also like to thank
the ongoing support of the Shire of Ravensthorpe, Country Arts WA and the
Department of Culture and the Arts; without whom we would not be able to
provide our community with such a diverse annual artistic program.
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| Platters by JCA were delicious! |
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| ...busy in the kitchen... |
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| ...no emu feathers here; and it's not so tiny either |
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| Ross Beckett, Chairperson of the Country Arts WA Board of Directors, brought his family along...all the way from Esperance! |
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| Tour Manager, Therese Mavros, introduces the show. |
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| supper! |
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| After the show, Damian mingles with the audience as we all enjoy some supper. |
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