Celebration of spirit and keenness over adversity

Theatre / “Sunshine Tremendous Woman”, written and directed by Andrea James, At The Q, Queanbeyan, till November 5.  Reviewed by LEN POWER.

EVONNE Goolagong was one of many world’s high tennis gamers within the Nineteen Seventies.  How this indigenous lady received there from humble beginnings and went on to fame within the sporting world at a time of widespread prejudice in Australia is the topic of “Sunshine Tremendous Woman”, written and directed by Andrea James.

Starting and ending with a lady having fun with the straightforward pleasures of fishing on a river, the story exhibits her as a toddler in a big household residing in a NSW nation city in a home that simply occurred to have a tennis courtroom out the again.  

The assistance given her by locals to progress her tennis is acknowledged and the chance for her to maneuver to Sydney will need to have been a wrench for her household.

Her success in tennis competitions is marred by an undesirable sexual strategy from her coach, prejudice and feedback corresponding to “bush child” within the press.  

All of it made her simply play more durable, occurring to win the ladies’s singles match at Wimbledon and being named Australian of the Yr in 1971.  

Her non-political stance on points corresponding to apartheid in South Africa angered activists. She simply received on together with her tennis, regardless of these pressures.

The manufacturing design of this play by Romaine Harper is a tennis courtroom that fills the stage and the lighting design by Karen Norris is especially efficient in offering environment and sense of place. The route by Andrea James is assured all through.

The tennis is depicted in dance choreographed by Katina Olsen and Vicki Van Hout, giving it a dreamlike high quality in step with Goolagong’s reminiscences whereas fishing. The solid of six carry out it very nicely.

As Evonne Goolagong, Ella Ferris offers a captivating efficiency as this lady who was by no means too removed from her roots. The remainder of the solid play a number of roles in her story and are fairly efficient.

With a distinctively Australian sensibility and humour, it is a simple and entertaining telling of Goolagong’s story. 

It’s a celebration of spirit and keenness over adversity, and a tribute to a lady whose sporting prowess continues to encourage a nation. With its putting manufacturing and lighting design, it’s additionally good theatre.