Our Country's Good - Drama Exploration

Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker

"Our Country's Good," a play by Timberlake Wertenbaker, is about a

group of English convicts bound for Australia by sea in 1788. In the

first scene, Sideways, a convict on board the ship, is being brutally

whipped and we are introduced to the constant, overwhelming fear,

hunger and despair that the convicts are going through.

We are also introduced to all the officials on board. They are

debating the punishment of hanging that three of the convicts have

received for stealing, and we see the different attitudes different

characters have to this. Governor Arthur Phillip supports a humane

approach to dealing with the convicts, but Judge David Collins

believes that the law must be upheld and that a crime, however petty,

is still a crime. Captain Watkin Tench says that the convicts are

beyond redemption anyway, and Midshipman Harry Brewer takes the

opinion that the convicts have become desensitized to hangings and

even consider it "their theatre". In the end Governor Phillip believes

that a play for the convicts to put on, with "fine language [and]

sentiment" is the way to go in order to encourage the convicts to

change their ways in this new environment.

We learn the play chosen play is to be "The Recruiting Officer" (1706)

by Irish actor-turned-playwright George Farquhar (1677-1707). It is

about his experiences working as a recruiting officer for the army for

three years, and one his last works before he died a year after it was

performed. Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark begins holding auditions for

the play. Ralph Clark is interested in timid convict Mary Brenham for

the play, as she knows how to write and therefore can make copies of

the script. Ralph Clark has the role of "Sylvia" in mind for Mary.

Clark gives the boisterous Dabby the role of "Rose", although a little

skeptical because she is unable to read. Rough and tough Liz Morden

then comes in, snatches the play from Ralph Clark and tells him she'll

"let [him] know" about her decision of her character.

The officers are already passionately quarreling about the play that

night, which is induced by their consumption of alcohol. They are

debating as to whether the convicts should be allowed to put on a

play. Some officers are against it, for example Major Robbie Ross, who

is a character constantly at odds with everyone around him. "You want

vice-ridden vermin to enjoy themselves?" he asks. He argues that the

play will teach "disobedience [and] revolution". However, as Phillip

is in charge, the plan goes through in the end, under his word that

the convicts should be educated and reformed. Ralph Clark echoed

Phillip's sentiment, saying that already some convicts have lost "some

of their corruption".

Quiet and unconventional convict Duckling now joins "The Recruiting

Officer" as well, under the firm suggestion of Midshipman Harry

Brewer, who is obsessed with her. Ketch Freeman, the hangman on board,

enters while Dabby, Mary and Liz (as the character "Melinda" in "The

Recruiting Officer") attempt to rehearse. They promptly send him away,

which leads him to talk to Ralph Clark. He opens up, desperately

asking for forgiveness for his actions that his job brings about. He

feels that if he is to redeem himself amongst the convicts, he should

act in the play with them.

The first rehearsal does not run smoothly due to conflicts between the

convicts. Also, some convicts do not turn up. The convicts' attempts

at acting in this scene, although whole-hearted, are amusing however.

But this comedy is soon broken by the antithesis of Captain Jemmy

Campbell and Major Robbie Ross entering in a fury, proclaiming that

the two convicts who did not show up to rehearsal have escaped,

stealing food from the ship's stores along with them. They point to

three convicts, including Liz Morden, as possible accomplices and the

rehearsal is left ruined.

This marks a struggle for "The Recruiting Officer," with Ralph

suggesting to Phillip to stop the play going forward as half the

convicts are in chains and there is strong opposition from officers in

a higher position than he. However, Captain Phillip inspires Clark to

go on. In the second rehearsal Robbie Ross is causing disruption yet

again, however, as the convicts begin to