Brisbane Festival 2009 in association with Brisbane Powerhouse present an Australian Premier – The Trial of the Catonsville Nine. This powerful true story is brought to life by the Actors’ Gang, one of Los Angeles most enduring theatre ensembles. The Actors’ Gang was founded in 1981 by a group of theatre artists including the Academy Award-winning actor, director and writer, Tim Robbins. He returned in 2001 as its Artistic Director.
In 1968 nine catholic peace activists including Father Daniel Berrigan and his brother, the late father Philip Berrigan, entered a draft board in Catonsville, Maryland. They stole hundreds of files of young men who were about to be sent to Vietnam and burnt them with homemade napalm. They knew that they would be arrested but believed it was time for the moral questions of America’s involvement in the war to be publically debated. The trial and sentence which followed was highly publicised and galvanised the Vietnam war protest movement. The play, which is in free verse and written by Father Daniel Berrigan, is a courtroom drama of the trial. It is of renewed relevance in the light of America’s current military engagements. Director Jon Kellam has created a minimalistic set which reflects Father Daniel Berrigan’s attempt to introduce morality and conscience to the courtroom. The performance space is delineated by the shape of a pyramid with the Judge at the head and the prosecutor and defence counsel at its base. The pyramid shape is symbolic of a religious structure and the motivations of the Catonsville nine. The seats suggest a courtroom but also pews in a church. A lectern acts as the Judge’s bench but also hints at a pulpit. A large American flag hangs from the ceiling at the rear of the stage with a parachute behind it. In the second act, the cast solemnly walk this flag across the stage as if at a military funeral before folding it into a pyramid shape and delivering it to the Judge. This set is complimented beautifully by the lighting design of Jacqueline Reid and sound design by Dave Robbins.
The quality cast of 10 remain in the performance space for the duration of the play. The actors who play the Catonsville nine move fluidly through multiple roles –not only are they the defendants, they also interchange the roles of prosecutor, defence counsel, jury and witness. Adele Robbins delivers a wonderful performance as the Judge and Patti Tippo’s representation of the witness who is a government clerk is delightful as is her portrayal of Marjorie Melville.
The dialogue of the play is poetic but Berrigan’s script does not find the right balance between action and exposition. The first act consists of more sermon than engaging theatre and is relatively static. The second act is shorter, has more movement and is better suited to staging. The Actors’ Gang could not have produced a better production given the limitations of the script.
The play is showing until 27 September 2009. If you enjoy quality, thought-provoking theatre, this is a performance not to miss.
Image Provided Courtesy of Brisbane Festival 2009
Image Credit: Kim Zsebe
Image Provided Courtesy of Brisbane Festival 2009
Image Credit: Kim Zsebe
