Image supplied by Barking Gecko Theatre Company.
Set in Western Australia’s wheatbelt, in 1965 Corrigin, Jasper Jones is told through the eyes of Charlie Bucktin, a book-obsessed teenager marginalised in the sports-mad town. Charlie is friends with the cricket-obsessed Jeffrey Lu, a Vietnamese migrant boy who has his own problems with local acceptance. One night Charlie is called from his sleep out by local troublemaker, Jasper Jones. Long bearing the blame for all misdemeanours of local youngsters, Jasper has rejected even trying to be accepted by Corrigin society. Jasper takes Charlie to his own special retreat by a dam, where they find the body of Laura Wishart, hanging by Jasper’s rope. Hiding the body in the dam, they make a pact to find out the killer’s identity, and why they would try to frame Jasper for the crime. Over the summer, Charlie finds out more about Jasper, his town, his family and his changing feelings for Laura’s sister, Emily.
Hoa Xuande steals the stage with each moment of his irrepressibly exuberant Jeffrey, never deterred, always bubbling over with cheerful optimism and dedication to cricketing greatness. James Beck’s Charlie is nearly too good-looking in a young Clark Kent manner for such a geek, but his strong reactions are wonderfully comical. Alexandra Jones is suitably terrifying as Mrs Bucktin, but allows the character’s inner sadness, desperation and vulnerability to show through. Similarly, Elizabeth Blackmore’s resilience in playing the dead Laura as well as the guilt-ridden, despairing Emily is an impressive feat. Shaka Cook’s Jasper is believably impulsive, strongly spoken and focussed on survival and escape, possibly at the expense of some emotional expression in the discoveries of hidden truths with Mad Jack, which does however align with consistent characterisation. Humphrey Bower amazes with his quick change diversity, playing father, grandfather and bully characters, as well as the rest of Corrigin’s population at various times.
A beautiful set from Michael Scott-Mitchell is simple, giving plenty of room for actions and scope for imaginative changes, but also works with Trent Suidgeest’s gorgeous lighting design and ritualistic actions by the actors to create moving scenes. Ben Collins’ sound design takes the audience through the highs and lows of the summer, immersing us in the place and time.
Kate Mulvany’s adaptation for stage is engaging, developing effective moments within the medium that work separately to the story’s life in the novel. The few quibbles I have with the production are with content, such as the unexplained presence of a Vietnamese family in Corrigin in 1965, but this particular hiccup is amply compensated by Jeffrey’s well-developed migrant character. Also disappointing is the poor depiction of the female roles, all portrayed as victims and defined by their relationships with male characters, but this limitation is one clearly carried over from the source material and mainly noticed because of the contrast with Barking Gecko Theatre Company’s strong record of productions featuring inspirational female leads.
An exciting and entertaining Western Australian work, this initial season has sold out, been extended and sold out again – and hopefully the production will go on to have a long and successful life, bringing a classic coming of age story of courage to many more audiences everywhere.
Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 stars
Jasper Jones
Presented by Barking Gecko Theatre Company
Based on the novel by Craig Silvey
Adapted by Kate Mulvany
Directed by John Sheedy
Set & Costume Designer: Michael Scott-Mitchell
Lighting Designer: Trent Suidgeest
Sound Designer: Ben Collins
Production Manager: Genevieve Jones
Stage Manager: Rhianne Perrie
Fight Director: Andy Fraser
Performed by Shaka Cook, James Beck, Hua Xuande, Elizabeth Blackmore, Alexandra Jones and Humphrey Bower
Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre
www.statetheatrecentrewa.com.au
From 18 July
