{"id":150672,"date":"2023-10-15T16:26:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-15T06:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/?p=150672"},"modified":"2023-10-19T17:14:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T07:14:17","slug":"the-appleton-ladies-potato-race-queensland-theatre-theatre-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-appleton-ladies-potato-race-queensland-theatre-theatre-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race (Queensland Theatre) – theatre review"},"content":{"rendered":"

This uplifting Queensland Theatre production of Melanie Tait\u2019s successful play-turned film is a very entertaining and fun trip to the theatre. It manages to evoke lots of laughs while also pressing a few salient buttons regarding Australians\u2019 stubbornness about, and suspicion of change. At one point, one of the older women says, \u2018We don\u2019t even have a voice\u2019. Yes, very salient.<\/p>\n

Tait was inspired by real-life events in her home town of Robertson, NSW, when she learnt what happened when some women didn\u2019t think it fair that the local show\u2019s potato race gave a $1,000 prize for the men\u2019s winner and only $200 for the women\u2019s winner. (The race gets its name from people racing while carrying a heavy sack of potatoes on their shoulders.)<\/p>\n

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Photos: Brett Boardman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Appleton Ladies\u2019 Potato Race sees one of its former residents, Dr Penny Anderson (Libby Munro) returning home from Sydney to live after the breakdown of her marriage. She\u2019s outraged when she hears her cousin, hairdresser Nikki (Rachel Gordon), excitedly talking about the race and how she plans on spending her $200 prize money when she wins.<\/p>\n

Penny makes it her mission to fundraise so the women can win the same prize money as the men, but she\u2019s met with resistance. Negative reactions go from the \u2018that\u2019s just the way it\u2019s always been\u2019 variety to accusing Penny of causing division and bringing out the dark side of the town. This happens after some nastiness rears its head with insults and sabotage tactics showing that embracing true equality is not on a lot of residents\u2019 to-do list. The fact that Rania (Natassia Halabi), a refugee from Aleppo, also helps with the fundraising brings even more ugliness \u2013 how dare she stop being a grateful and compliant refugee and actually want to fight for something.<\/p>\n

But there is also positive support, especially from Nikki and Penny\u2019s Aunty Barb (Valerie Bader) who clashes with her less liberal-minded peer, Bev (Barbara Lowing). They epitomise the town\u2019s opposing views about moving with the times or sticking with tradition. But even though there are strong disagreements between all the women, what binds them is their love for their town and the value they place on caring for others in whatever way that presents itself. All five women \u2013 the entire cast \u2013 bring energy and sincerity to their characters in the heartwarming story guaranteed to put a smile on everyone\u2019s face.<\/p>\n