Hailing Ideology, Acting in the Horizon, and Reading between Plays by Timberlake Wertenbaker

Abstract

Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good traces how a group of convicts and jailers isolated in eighteenth-century Australian penal colony work together to produce George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer.' While based on actual event, Wertenbaker's play becomes more metatheatrical than documentary with its themes revolving around the role and function of in society. Such themes take center stage early in the drama when the Governor of the colony suggests that his wards might put on a play in order to replace the usual entertainments that include hangings and floggings. Faced with this suggestion, the other state, military, and religious authorities discuss the merits of the theatre (23). A debate ensues amongst these characters in which is described as an expression of civilization and championed for its potential to act as cultural rehabilitation for the convicts. On the other hand, the debate also includes the assertion that is at the most . . . entertainment to wile away the hours of the idle, the results of which could hardly change society (24-25). The idea of producing The Recruiting Officer is eventually endorsed by this gathering of authorities, but not before the Major raises the most indicting appraisal of the project, exclaiming, I know this play-this play-order will become disorder. The leads to threatening theory ... (26).