The Sapphires is an Australian classic, winning two Helpmann Awards for Best Play and Best New Australian Work in 2005, epitomising feel good stories from country Australia. It was also released as a blockbuster film of the same name in 2012, directed by Wayne Blair, and written by Keith Thompson with Tony Briggs. Winning Best Soundtrack for the Aria Awards and the Awgie Award for Most Outstanding Script 2012.
With an incredible story it is an uplifting fun musical, inspired by the incredible true story of Laurel Robinson and Lois Peeler, Tony Brigg's mother and aunt. Four young Yorta Yorta Aboriginal sisters from the border of Victoria and New South Wales, who love to sing Motown hits, enter a local talent competition and catch the eye of the host and promoter, Dave (Mike Smith). With their incredible harmonies and powerful voices, accompanied by foxy good looks, he persuades them to tour Vietnam during the Vietnam War in 1968 to entertain the troops. They grab the opportunity to change their lives forever and realise their dreams with Dave at the helm.
The QUT Gardens Theatre was packed with a family audience, including excited teens perhaps familiar with the film eager to hear the Motown hits. The four sisters were played by Aboriginal women, lending a genuine flavour to the production. The harmonies were fabulous and worthy of any Mototown label. Lorinda May Merrypor (Julie), who graduated from Griffith University’s Conservatorium, had a lovely sweet innocence to her voice and carried the melody well, especially in the funky Otis Redding hit, Respect. Mindy Kwanten was Cynthia and the vocal captain, demonstrating a large vocal range with an incredible powerful resonant voice, similar to the great Aretha Franklin. Gail, (Ngaire Pigram) was the matriarchal bossy sister. She kept the comedy flowing with her laconic asides and disgusted looks along with the more tolerant sister Kay, played by Matilda Brown, a QUT graduate.
The promoter Dave, provided much of the visual comedy demonstrating his “white fella” dancing skills as he twisted and grooved on stage, bringing a comical relief to the darker moments of the show. He slowly realised what traumas he had let himself in for, trying to manage four feisty young women in a dangerous war zone full of red blooded soldiers desperate to add some sparkle from a Sapphire to their terrifying lives.
The band had the audience bopping the whole evening with their funky Motown music played live on stage throughout the show. They even provided the musical interludes between the many brief stage changes, which kept the play flowing along nicely, thanks to Musical Director Nathaniel Andrew. With Mitchell Kwanten on lead guitar, Joel Macintyre on bass and Jack Hickey beating out the groovy rhythms, the band were an integral part to the show. They added a musical dimension making it seem to be more of a Motown concert interspersed with a play, having the audience clapping along to the rhythms, as if in a nightclub making it a massive hit.
The Sapphires sparkled with talent in a dramatic spectacle of Motown hits, bling and Aussie comedy to entertain the troops of Brisbane.
Written and Directed by Tony Briggs
QUT Gardens Theatre
19-20 March 2019.
Dr Gemma Regan