Playwright: Barry Dickins
Director: Malcolm Robertson
Cast: Fred Whitlock, John Brumpton, Robynne Bourne, Melanie Beddie, Tom Considine, Cliff Ellen, Ross Thompson, Luke Elliot, Don Bridges
Set designer: John Beckett
Venue: Playbox Merlyn Theatre, 113 Sturt St, South Melbourne
Synopsis: The life and times of hanged criminal, Ronald Ryan.
Rating: 4 stars
This very fine new Australian play is a dramatically powerful, yet also quite often funny account of Ronald Ryan's life.
Playwright Barry Dickins says the purpose of his play is to show Ryan "for what he really was....a poor, charismatic, literate, clever, bungling, courageous, appalling bank robber who was murdered by the government".
Dickins's portrait succeeds admirably, containing some of his best writing to date.
His work is brought alive in John Beckett's striking set by an excellent cast.
Fred Whitlock as Ronald Ryan conveys the peculiar charm of the man with a stage presence and understated power that is masterfully wrought.
John Brumpton as Ryan's mate, Peter Walker, has a similarly striking masculine poise. Both men capture the wry humor, yet underlying menace and anger of the criminal subclass, in a satisfyingly combustible mix.
Robynne Bourne, as Ryan's upper class wife, Dorothy, brings a concentrated pathos to her long-suffering character.
The many supporting players are also accomplished, notably Cliff Ellen, Don Bridges and Ross Thompson in numerous roles.
In short, this is a strong, fascinating production which will intrigue those who do not remember the Ryan case as much as those who pored over it.