The drama tells the true story of Australia's earliest known dramatic performance in 1789, to celebrate the king's birthday. An army lieutenant directed a cast of the only people available, English convicts exiled down under. Plays about plays always interest me. The central philosophical debate interests me, too. This is a great ensemble show, no real star.
Actors get a wide range, especially because of the doubling of roles.
Many actors play both the convicts and the British officers. So much of today's dramatic literature deals with suburbia. This show deals with interesting historic issues, and it has powerful language. Our Country's Good has many challenges, all positive, according to Mangano. The characters are not easy.