(No Sugar focus, although Othello has also been studied)

Davis' presentation of the social, realist, drama "No Sugar" can be considered as a forum to highlight the impacts of the European social and political philosophy of the early 20th century on Aboriginal society. It is a political text that exposes social issues. It expresses these issues using the form of drama and the use of staging conventions to challenge the audience into developing an opinion on the topics.

The play was staged on a perambulant model, meaning that the action of the play shifts between several locations: There is the town of Northam with the Police Station and two Cells, the Main Street and the Government Well Aboriginal Reserve. Then there is The Moore River Native Settlement with the Superintendent's office, the Millimurra family's tent and the Aboriginal camp at Long Pool. There is also the Chief Protectors Office and the Western Australian Historical Society in Perth and an area by the railway line. This allows for diversification of a conventional stage setting or alternatively placeme

It could be said that the whole 20th Century was one of enlightenment. With the formation of the League of Nations after the W.W.1 and the United Nations after W.W.2, political and religious leaders became accountable, often reluctantly. These International bodies were able to act as a general conscience for the entire world and establish rules of behaviour and engagement. In Australia this social progress was assisted by the activism of a politically aware post-war generation of Aborigines and young white people.

There is also the irony and demonstration of rebellion achieved when the Aboriginal characters corrupt the words of the hymn sung at the Australia Day ceremony 1934, near the end of the play (Act 4 Scene 5) when the Whites sing a traditional hymn "There is a Happy Land" and the Aborigines sing a parody as a song of rebellion! When viewed from an Aboriginal perspective, one has to question exactly what Australia Day really means. This supports the contention that No Sugar is a protest play, protesting the social injustices metered out to Aboriginal people of the period.

There can be no doubt there was a collective effort by Christian Churches to destroy all other cultures in the world during most of the last two millenniums by exerting their influence on Government. Fortunately the excessive power wielded by the forces of Christianity was curtailed in the 20th Century. The play may be seen to subvert the traditional 'missionary' mentality of a white audience; a mentality that would perhaps automatically lead to the assumption that the Aboriginal people needed to be 'saved' through exposure to Christianity. In reality No Sugar presents a view that is contrary to this assumption. It is the aboriginal people who practise and bring forward the very basis of Christian ethics. In support of this assertion, it can be argued that in the characters of Mary Dargurru, Joseph Millimurra and baby Jimmy, Davis provides an analogy to the Holy Family, of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, which lies at the very heart of the Christian teachings. The birth of baby Jimmy represents a triumph over the oppressive whites, and. like all births, symbolises continuity into the future. In this case, it represents the continuation of the Aboriginal culture against all odds.

The play provides an opportunity to create an empathy and understanding of the predicament of the Aborigines and encourages the audiences and readers to consider the consequences of social manipulation from an Aborigine's perspective. 'Black' theatre is one of the few places where Aborigines can control their own form of representation. Through the use of theatre Jack Davis reflects his pride in his heritage as an Australian Aborigine and offers an insight into Aboriginal culture and how European/English civilisation impacted upon it. His play illustrates the unacceptable conditions and standards forced upon the Aboriginal people and appeals for the restoration of their cultural identity. The theme that dominates the play is that of Aborigines in an urban setting and the injustice of the misguided attempts at assimilation without the provision of equal rights.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Jack Davis, English European, Police Force, , Scene Joe, Nations WW2, Australia Day, Frank Aboriginal, Government Fortunately, Australian Aborigine, aboriginal people, 1 scene, act 1, act 1 scene, 20th century, jack davis, aboriginal culture, millimurra family, sugar protest play, nyoongah language, social issues, 1 scene 2, baby jimmy, assumption aboriginal people, protesting social injustices,
Approximate Word count = 2112
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)