Opening Night, Opening Night!
The air is electric around Red Earth Arts Precinct this weekend, as an acting troupe of cons from Roebourne Prison are set to take the stage this evening and perform a Pilbara-fied rendition of the Wizard of Oz.
Our reporter sat down with director Monty Ficus this morning, who was flown up from Perth’s Black Swan State Theatre Company to oversee the production.
How are you feeling ahead of opening night?
Well, I have smoked about 1500 cigarettes today and I’m this close to cracking the Vodka in my freezer and taking a nice big swig, those gentlemen have certainly kept me on my toes.
How has working with prisoners changed your process?
I’ve realised you have to be firm with these boys. One particular little hard man told me he was going to ‘bust out my hole’ and then made several violent stabbing thrust gestures. But I then made him do improv on stage for 10 minutes and the experience was so humiliating that he now holds my out-turned pocket when I walk around set and wouldn’t dare look me in the eyes.
What can the audience expect at tonight’s show?
I have been in theatre almost 30 years now, it has been my life’s passion – and I can honestly say that after this experience of directing this show, I’m ready to put it all down and just fuck off to Tuscany for the year. None of them can read for fuck sake!
While director Monty Ficus admitted to some initial apprehension, nowhere was the phrase “the show must go on” more evident than in leading man Greg Dhu (three life sentences), who stars as Alice. Our reporter caught up with him this morning before yard time to see how preparations were shaping up.
How are you feeling ahead of opening night?
Good. That place has aircon yeah?
Yes. But about the show, are you excited to perform.
Yeah – tell em to set it to 20 degrees and blast the fan. Fuck, I’ll dress up as a woman every day if that’s what it takes lad.
How has your relationship with director Monty Ficus been over the course of the project?
Who’s that, never met him. This place got food as well? Or we stuck eating the slop from the joint?
I’m not too sure, can you please hand me back my phone and wallet? Do you think audiences will enjoy the show tonight?
Yeah – you wanna see a real show? Pedo just got put in the yard, he gonna get it this arvo eshay. Take a wizard to get what we stick in him out, that’s for sure.
The show premieres this evening at 6pm at Red Earth Arts Theatre and tickets are on sale now.
