Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed 12 June 2015
John Thorn conceived this idea when he took a tour with his father to retrace Lawson’s footsteps. That was in 2013 and the music to most of the poems in this selection has been completed since then. Henry Lawson was a prolific writer; he wrote mostly poems and short stories and is revered as one of Australia’s great poets, although he was never lauded as others have been and he never gained the fame and fortune he craved.
Of the 500+ poems that Lawson wrote between 1887 and 1922, Thorn has chosen 19 to put to music, mostly those that could be called ballads. The trio of Thorn, Emily Taheny and Lindsay Field worked well together mixing and blending their voices as well as taking the occasional solo. All have good voices and backed by Thorn’s piano playing and Lindsay Field (of John Farnham fame) on guitar it was a varied sound. The music covered several styles each suited to the verse it backed.
The evening opened with Lawson’s answer to Waltzing Matilda, Sons of the South which was first published in time for the inaugural Eight Hour March in 1887. Everyone was encouraged to join in with Lawson’s ‘National Anthem’. Emily Taheny has a clear sweet voice and she did well with Andy Gone With Cattle and The Drover’s Sweetheart. The show covered many popular items, but with so many to choose from it must have been a difficult task to pick the final number.
The selection covered the hardships of working the land, the terrible poverty that Henry witnessed and the occasional nod to hidden emotions. Personal favourites were Mary Called Him Mister, Scots of the Riverina and When the Army Prays for Watty, but I enjoyed them all and I am most grateful to this production for reminding me how much I enjoyed this man’s poetry.
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds
Rating (out of 5): 4
Venue: The Space, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 12 +13 June 2015
Duration: 1hr 10 mins
Tickets: $34.90 – $44.90
Bookings: Book online through www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au or phone BASS on 131 246
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