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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Set in 1840 on the mythical island of Canberra. For sixty years the island has been the dumping ground for students, the unemployed, musicians, poets and other social riff-raff. The government universities, pubs and coffee shops that were established to implement strict social control experiments have failed. In an effort to re-establish conformity amongst the country's citizens, razor gangs from the Ministry of Social Reform have orchestrated a major slashing campaign to all areas of the island's economic funding. It is the story of a greed, lust, power, revenge, sex, murder, heroism, betrayal and true love, focusing on a small band of student revolutionaries led by Hanrahan and their fight against the evil Colonel Alistair MacJones.
Conceived and developed as a low budget production suitable for university or high school students, 'The Last Word', has been adapted from a work-in-progress melodrama text by Brisbane-based writer, Cameron Davies. The musical score is essentially rock/pop in style.
Notes
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Marcel Dorney (q.v.) also composed one song for the production - "I Only Followed Orders."
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Songs: 1. (Slightly Late Overture) "The Last Word" ; 2. - "Victory Song" 3. "Sweet Mischief" 4. "What's a Girl to Do?" 5. "Time Will Tell" ; 6. "Is it the Right Thing?" ; 7. "Sweet Mischief" (Slight Return) ; 8. "The Best Laid Plans" ; 9. "What Can We Do?" ; 10. "Villain's Theme" ; 11. "Hero's Theme" ; 12. "I Only Followed Orders" ; 13. "Lingua Franca Love" ; 14. "Heroes and Villains."
- "Time Will Tell" also appears on The Larrikin Demofestos (q.v.) by Some Trippin' Diggers.
- "Hero's Theme," "Villain's Theme" and "Heroes and Villains" originally written for the 1994 UQ Drama Dept. production of Marvellous Melbourne (by Alfred Dampier et al) The songs also appear on the Marvellous Melbourne (q.v.) soundtrack by Clay Djubal.
- "Lingua Franca Love" originally written for the 1995 UQ Drama Dept. production of Translations (by Brian Friel)
Production Details
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1997 : Cement Box Theatre, Brisbane; 9-19 April. Dir/Music Dir/Design Marcel Dorney ; Prod. Aquarius/Gemini Productions and Pandemonium Theatre ; Assist Dir/Music Dir/Design Clay Djubal ; Lighting Design Geoff Squires ; Lighting Andrew McDevitt ; Chor. Jacqui Hall with Helen Zelinski ; Sound. Paula Quinn. - Cast: Jonathon Jackson (Col. McJones), Justin Cooper-White (Hanrahan), Cassandra Prucha (Kitty), Rob McCathie (Major Fowler/Citizen), Michael Swifte (Murphy), Lyndon Daly (Sgt. Duncan), Zoe Houghton (O'Shea), Amy Lush (Mulligan), Belinda Ramsden (Rooney), Chris Thomas (Doyle), Shammus Cahill (O'Shaunessy), Paula Quinn (Constance), Clay Djubal (Lawyer/Soldier/Game Show Host), Marcel Dorney (Soldier/Game Show Host), Helen Zelinski (Waiter). - Musicians: The Last Word Band (Marcel Dorney, Thom McGhie, Clay Djubal); with additional instruments by Rob McCathie, Cassandra Prucha, Shammus Carhill, Lyndon Daly. Billy Hill and the Ordinaries : Michael Swifte, Justin Cooper-White, Cassandra Prucha, Rob McCathie.
