CONDENSE 150 years of history into a two-hour show and no two historians would ever agree about what should be included or excluded, let alone the locals.
However, director Barbara Albury seems to have landed on the plus side with her sesquicentenary production ‘Armidale: Our Town’, which will play at the Armidale Town Hall from 22-24 November.
Two well-known local historians Judy Grieve and Ian Johnstone, who made a major contribution to the initial research, are on the whole satisfied with the result.
“Judy and I applaud the way Barbara has presented scenes from Armidale’s history in a dramatic way,” Mr Johnstone said.
“The result is entertaining, informative and enjoyable.
“Even when you know how much has had to be left out, it is impressive to see how the play covers the major events and social history of the area.”
Ms Grieve said: “Armidale is chockers with stories and in a project like this you can never please everyone.”
Both are pleased that so many colourful stories have made it to the final cut, such as the elopement of Henry Dangar’s eldest daughter with the man who eventually became the Premier of Queensland.
Ms Albury says she consulted the works of local historians John Ferry and Lionel Gilbert as well as Ian Johnstone’s list of 100 stories and Judy Grieve’s contributions.
“The first version I wrote was six to seven hours long so I gave it to my husband Randall and he cut it back to half the number of scenes and we worked on getting it back to two hours,” she said. “You weep at what you have had to leave out.”
A cast of 14 has been assembled and rehearsals have begun in earnest. The play includes original songs and music by Bob Thompson and Chris Cunningham and will raise funds for a new library, which is part of the Armidale Civic Precinct project.
Bookings for performances on Friday 22 November, at 11am; two more matinees on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November, at 2pm, and evening performances on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 November, at 8pm (Gala Night) can be made at Carr’s NewsXpress on 6772 3534, in Central Mall or www.armidalecivic.org.au
