LOUISVILLE, Ky. 鈥 The continues its season of plays written by women with 鈥淥ur Country鈥檚 Good鈥 Nov. 10-19 at the historic Playhouse theatre.
Based on real events, this award-winning drama by Timberlake Wertenbaker is an evocative look at a moment in history 鈥 the founding of a nation 鈥攁nd an inspiring tale about the transformative power of theatre.
In January 1788, British prison ships arrive at Botany Bay, Australia, to settle the penal colony at Port Jackson, the site of current-day Sydney. When hope and supplies run low, a lieutenant tries to increase morale by staging a comedy, 鈥淭he Recruiting Officer鈥 by George Farquhar, using the convicts as the cast.
In writing the play, which is based on the novel 鈥淭he Playmaker鈥 by Thomas Keneally (author of 鈥淪chindler鈥檚 List鈥), Wertenbaker wanted 鈥渢o write about what it means to be brutalized, what it means to live without hope, and how theatre can be a humanizing force.鈥
鈥淚 decided to explore Wertenbaker’s 鈥極ur Country’s Good鈥 through the lens of current political issues,鈥 said associate professor Baron Kelly, who is directing. 鈥淚n America, we are witnessing fiery political debates around what is meant by 鈥榦ur country.鈥 We are witnessing factions debating and declaiming issues of immigration and DACA couched in the phrase 鈥榤ake American great again.鈥 The Black Lives Matter movement is a strong voice decrying the deaths of unarmed black men by law enforcement in America. Does 鈥榤ake America great again鈥 really mean for some to make America 鈥榞ood and white鈥 again?鈥澛犅
鈥溾 runs at 8 p.m. Nov. 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 and 3 p.m. Nov. 12 and Nov. 19 at The Playhouse, 1911 S. Third St.聽
Season tickets are $50. Individual tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for faculty, alumni and seniors and $8 for UofL students. To order tickets or for more information, click , call 502-852-7682 or email uofltheatrearts@gmail.com.
For more information, contact Blair Boyd at 502-852-7682 or blair.boyd@louisville.edu.
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