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Old Fitzroy Theatre
until April 19
Bookings: 1300 438 849
It might be called the ‘forgotten war’ by soldiers who have done active service in Afghanistan, as conflicts with those pesky Arabs seem to be rated by the news media from what is newsworthy to what is not.
And we probably can’t imagine the psychological damage suffered by Australian soldiers soon to come home.
Like me, you may find yourself dodging mad people in Taylor Square and not think about how they might be trying to get back to where they want to be. That seems to have been the starting point for Al Dukes, an actor and the writer of Brilliant Monkey.
This play has lived beyond its first season (a rarity for a new Australian play), and deservedly so. This steady tale of manly men who have become unstuck has broad appeal. It is tinged with sentiment but it also offers a stiff depiction of the day-to-day reality of those who have somehow slipped through the cracks in this lucky yet increasingly unsympathetic country.
Brilliant Monkey is the story of two brothers, Gerard (Warwick Young) and Danny (Dukes), who accidentally meet in the grounds of a repatriation hospital. Until now each has found true kinship elsewhere.
Gerard found a real home in the army but his combat-related wounds have made him a liability and he is struggling against being medically discharged. Danny’s injuries might seem self inflicted but his self-imposed exile also stems from a single harrowing incident in his past. When both brothers realise how easy it is to be forgotten, they find themselves reassessing what they mean to each other.
This play especially benefits from powerful, committed performances. Jeremy Sims and Andy McDonell have co-directed with much empathy for the subject matter. The production team including designers Jeremy Silver and Andrew Williams makes a simple but effective contribution.
I have to mention how much I enjoyed the fantasy scenes between a certain Major Sneaky Manoeuvre and his trusty corporal, where the former, full of ‘wheezy ideas’, advises the latter of his next diabolically dangerous mission. If you don’t catch the play, a filmed version of these scenes has made its way to YouTube.
This is Al Dukes’ first play and I hope it is not his last. A lot of humanity went into creating this work, as well as some great storytelling. It seems the writer’s view, worth reflecting upon, is that everyone is entitled to a healthy homecoming.
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