'A moving and affirmative tribute to the transforming power of the theatre', how far do you agree with this assessment of 'Our Country's Good'.

             Timberlake Wertenbaker wrote 'Our countries good' in 1988, and based the play on the novel 'The Playmaker' by Thomas Keneally. It is set in 1787 and in is the story of a group of convicts deported to Australia for crimes committed in England. These convicts are given the chance to perform in a play for the penal colony and through this play they progress from 'animals' to decent individuals.

             In this essay I will prove that 'Our Country's Good' is 'A moving and affirmative tribute to 'the transforming power of the theatre'. I will also prove that while 'the transforming power of the theatre' is the most important theme of the play it is not the only one.

             'Our countries good' centres on the convict's progression from animals to people through the influence of the Play. In the start of the play the convicts are shown as animals who are rude and disgusting, who sing of 'English cunt', and talk to themselves, ranting and raving about their 'Hunger'. It is also made clear to us, early on, that the officers consider the convicts as little more animals as well. With the exception of the Governor, the officers all believe the convicts are below them. As early as the third scene we here of complaints that it's 'wrong to put convicts and the marines on the same rations' which clearly shows us that the officers feel above the convicts. We also here how 'hanging' is the convicts 'favourite form of entertainment', something that increases the image of their barbarity and savagery. The Governor alone however, believes that 'no one is born naturally cultured' and that the convicts 'can be educated'. The play is his way of educating them after all 'theatre is an expression of civilisation'.

             At first it appears as if the magic of theatre is not enough to create cultured individuals out of the convicts as, on the appearance of Liz Morden at the rehearsals it looks as if there will be a fight between her and Dabby Bryant.