Our Country's Good: theatrical conventions of the period

Our Country’s Good: theatrical conventions of the period

Theatrical Conventions of the Period in ‘Our Country’s Good’

Neoclassicism

  • The play is set in the late 18th century, a period influenced by neoclassical conventions. Plays of this time sought to instruct and to moralise, mirroring classical ideals of balance, order and reason.
  • These conventions are presented and subtly criticised in the rehearsal scenes. For instance, the convicts struggle with the restrictive rules of classical acting, including the use of declamatory speeches and grand gestures.

Melodrama

  • Elements of melodrama also appear in the play. The exaggerated conflicts, moral polarities, and heightened emotions displayed by the characters reflect this popular theatrical convention of the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Major Ross and Ralph Clark’s dispute over the staging of the play within the play is a notable instance of these effects.

Pantomime

  • Pantomime tendencies are shown in several scenes involving physical comedy, slapstick humour, and farcical subplots. This is especially evident during the rehearsals for the convict play.
  • Notably, Liz Morden’s overacting and the hilarity that ensues during the rehearsals express this pantomime convention.

Breaching the Fourth Wall

  • Timberlake Wertenbaker also adopts the modern convention of breaching the fourth wall. Characters, such as Ralph Clark, directly address the audience at certain points.
  • This technique evokes a sense of reality and immediacy, enhancing the audience’s engagement with the characters and the issues at stake.

Use of Meta-Theatre and Play within a Play

  • The practice of meta-theatre and the device of a ‘play within a play’ take centre stage in Our Country’s Good. The convicts stage a play (“The Recruiting Officer”), and their rehearsals offer a commentary on the role and power of theatre.
  • Through this, Wertenbaker explores the transformative potential of theatre and subtly questions the theatrical conventions of the period.