Tequila Mockingbird by Shake and Stir

For those of you who are fans of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, you will definitely appreciate the production arranged by Brisbane based theatre group Shake and Stir.
It opened last Thursday on the 21st of August, and will run until the 7th of September at the Cremorne Theatre (QPAC) in Southbank, Brisbane. My friend and fellow Journalism student Conall Crowley attended the performance on Friday, August 23rd. Here are our opinions!



GiGi:
In my opinion, this production was outstanding in every aspect. A cast of five might not seem like many, however their ability to transform into different roles meant that there were eleven different characters in total to grace the stage.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the original plot of To Kill a Mockingbird, it's about the racism in a small Southern town in America. When a white girl cries rape by a black man, Atticus Finch, a lawyer, decides to represent the black man in the courts. The story comes from all of the side plots and the events which ensue.

Conall:

Tequila Mockingbird captures the claustrophobia and fear that’s almost always present in the atmosphere of dying country towns. Stanton is a place that’s soaked in fear- fear of losing your job and the little money you have left, fear of getting trapped in an abusive relationship, fear of another dry summer, and fear of the new and the threat of change. And, as Charlie sees when the new Indian doctor  is accused of assaulting the girlfriend of the local thug, this fear can ignite into unbelievably violent hate in the blink of an eye.  The soundscape of creaking corrugated iron, dry wind, and smashing glass captures this perfectly, and the harsh lighting scheme sets the stage –Stanton- as a stark place where people, and the divisions between them, are as simple and as unchangeable as black and white.

GiGi:

Tequila Mockingbird has placed an Australia twist on the old story, with an Indian doctor arriving in a small, racist country town. Whilst the book and the play share the same underlying themes and plot, they are obviously different due to the separation of cultures. Tequila Mockingbird is, in my opinion, far more confronting than the book. It's not because there is never-ending violence. I think that it's just because seeing the racial taunts and remarks acted out in real life shock you, because you sometimes forget that this sort of thing happens all over the world; every day.

However, despite being in-your-face, it presents sparks of humour, as the storyline follows the life of Charlie, a teenage boy whose father agrees to represent the Indian doctor, Sameer. There are many lovable characters who are deeply contrasted by characters so spiteful you just want to yell out and tell them to stop it. But it's just a play!

Conall:

If we learn anything from Tequila Mockingbird , it’s that the antidote to racism and cruelty is combatting ignorance and stupidity wherever you see it. The two lead characters, Sameer (Shannon Haegler) and Richard (a brilliant Ross Balbuziente) are the two lone warriors fighting the good fight, using nothing but intelligence and the truth alone. Balbuziente’s Richard is the highlight of the show- he radiates intelligence, integrity, and stubbornness with every moment on the stage. All the cast give outstanding performances but every time Balbuziente is on, he compels the audience’s eye and drives the story forward to it’s ineveitable and tragic conclusion..

I also have to congratulate  Nelle Lee who gave brilliant performance as both Mel and Rachel, but also adapted the entire script. Her work is outstanding and has resulted in one of the most haunting  and memorable piece of theatre this year. Bravo.

GiGi:

Shake and Stir has left lasting memories on my times when I've seen them perform at the theatre. From modern-day adaptions that made me enjoy Shakespeare in high school, to an adaption of 1984 (by George Orwell) last year and finally Tequila Mockingbird this year, I've loved it all. Though I was incredibly disappointed that I couldn't make it to Animal Farm, I'm sure that there will be many more amazing and unique productions by this crew in the years to come!

Conall:

Four and a half stars: a brilliant adaption of a modern classic, uniquely tailored to an Australian audience. Must see. 

GiGi:
If you have time to see this play, it is well worth your while. It is entertaining and eye-opening and I guarantee you will walk out rethinking the way that you look at the world. I know I did!

For tickets, go to: http://www.qpac.com.au/event/Tequila_Mockingbird_13.aspx


Tweet us! 

Conall: @Conall_Crowley
GiGi: @ahh_gigi