CCU Department of Theatre presents 'Our Country’s Good’
Adapted from Thomas Keneally's novel, "The Playmaker," and first performed at London's Royal Court Theatre in 1988, "Our Country's Good" tells the story of a civilizing experiment that takes place in 1789 in the first penal colony in Australia. To celebrate the king's birthday, a group of Royal Marines and transported convicts work together to put on a production of Farquhar's "The Recruiting Officer." A drama about the humanizing and transformative power of theater, "Our Country's Good" brings to vivid life the earthy humor of the convicts, the brutality of their treatment and the fractiousness of the naval officers in charge of a tense environment on the other side of the world.
"Our Country's Good" performance dates are as follows:
- Wednesday, Nov. 8-Friday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 12, 3 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 14-Friday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m.
There will be no Saturday performances.
The play is under the guest direction of Matthew Earnest, a director whose works have been received in the U.S and abroad and noted as involving surprisingly bold reinventions. His direction has been recognized in The New York Times and in other major national publications. Earnest has worked with the Department of Theatre at CCU twice before, in directing the productions of "Blood Wedding" (2014) and "Big Love" (2017). He holds an M.F.A. in theatre directing from York University in Toronto. "Our Country's Good" was written for 10 actors to play 22 roles, with most actors playing both a naval officer and a convict.
"It's a play about transformation," said Earnest, "and built into this performance is a literal transformation right before your eyes. There's a very minimal costume change - they're just suggestions. The main change in character occurs through the actors' voices and their bodies and the language that they're speaking."
The cast includes the following students currently enrolled in Bachelor of Fine Arts performance programs: Sydney Copeland-Goodman, senior physical theatre major from Sicklerville, N.J.; Gable Harkins, sophomore acting major from Pleasant Grove, Ala.; Ashton Harris, freshman physical theatre major from Nashville, Tenn.; Korilyn Hendricks, senior physical theater major from Aiken, S.C.; Ivan Jermyn, sophomore physical theatre major from Montpelier, Vt.; Drake King, sophomore acting major from Piedmont, S.C.; Devante Owens, junior acting major from Varnville, S.C.; Noah Pelty, junior acting major from New York, N.Y.; Lillian Shoji, sophomore physical theatre major from Woodstock, Ga.; Kennedi Skye, senior acting major from Grayson, Ga.; Bennett Sullivan, freshman acting major from Manchester, Ct.; and Tyrecus McKenzie, sophomore B.A. theatre major from Bishopville, S.C.
General admission is $17. Senior citizens, OLLI members, CCU alumni, teens and CCU/HGTC faculty and staff are $12. Children and CCU/HGTC students are $7 with student identification.
Upcoming CCU Department of Theatre productions include Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway" in February, "Julius Caesar" in March and "35mm - A Musical Exhibition" in April.
The Edwards Theatre is located in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts at 133 Chanticleer Drive W. on the Conway campus. Parking is available in lots directly adjacent near the back of the building or in J lot near the Singleton building. Visit www.coastal.edu/aboutccu/campusmap.
For tickets or for more information, call the Wheelwright Box Office at 843-349-ARTS (2787) or visit coastal.edu/culturalarts or ticketreturn.com. The Wheelwright Box Office is located at 108 Spadoni Park Circle on the Conway campus, and hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.