A Review of The Theatre Adaptation of Jasper Jones

The theatre production that the audience viewed was Jasper Jones, presented by the State Theatre Company South Australia and Flinders University. Based on the book by Craig Silvey, and adapted by Kate Mulvany. The style of the performance was a combination of both Naturalism (Stanislavski), and Epic (Brecht). This was demonstrated well as the acting was believable as the main actors were acting as 13 - 16-year-olds, but were older than that. The main themes that the play discuss are racism & ignorance, growing up and fear & courage. The main scenes being discussed are, the finding of Laura Wishart’s body, Charlie’s mother Mrs. Bucktin caught having an affair, and the first introduction of Mad Jack Lionel. The scene of Laura Wishhart’s body will be focused on music, lighting, and direction. The scene of Mad Jack Lionel focuses on costume, characterization, and setting. Charlie Bucktin’s mother having an affair focuses exclusively on the acting, costume, and direction.

Racism is appeared as there are loads of suppositions about the Jones and Lu family dependent on their race and social foundation. A case of this is when Jasper being known as a 'half-caste' and Jefferey got called 'Kong'. Growing up demonstrates the group of spectators how Charlie develops as he manages startling circumstances and figures out how to confront his feelings of trepidation. The youthful characters are compelled to grow up quick/develop when they manage 'grown-up' issues, eg. passing, prejudice, infidelity and physical savagery. Bravery is presented toward the beginning, as Charlie is frightened of bunches of things, for instance, his mom's temper, following Jasper, creepy crawlies, menaces like Warwick. As the play advances, Charlie's bravery develops. In spite of the fact that the doesn't defeat his feelings of dread, he figures out how to recognize them and face them.

The theatre production of Jasper Jones directed by Nescha Jelk is a semi-realistic coming-of-age representation of the social commentary and culture of Australian society in the 1960s. The distinct theatre production demonstrates the harsh climate of xenophobia, cultural stereotyping, and destructive racism that existed, as well as the fictional, patriarchal town of Corrigan. Against the social turmoil of the Vietnam War, Mulvany explores themes of community, conformity, and discrimination, which remain true throughout, and are personified, by the multi-faceted characters of Jasper Jones.

The theater production of Jasper Jones coordinated by Nescha Jelk is a coming-of-age transitioning portrayal of the social editorial and culture of Australian society during the 1960s. The particular theater creation shows the brutal atmosphere of xenophobia, social stereotyping, and ruinous bigotry that existed, just as the anecdotal, male centric town of Corrigan. Against the social strife of the Vietnam War, Mulvany investigates topics of network, similarity, and segregation, which stay valid all through, and are represented by the multi-faceted characters of Jasper Jones.

In the scene where Charlie discovers his mother in the act, the elements of costumes, acting and direction Jelk creates a cringe-worthy portrayal, as Charlie is frozen when his mother stumbles amongst the forest floor fixing her dress. Mrs. Bucktin is in hiding in the upstage forest, and Charlie is downstage and clear to the audience. Leading up to this scene, Mrs. Bucktin acts suspicious as she goes out almost every night, and returns leg-less and drunk. It is not clear to the audience where she goes or who she’s with, but the audience gets a clear idea that she is not alone with animal-like encouraging noises.

The scene of the introduction of Mad Jack Lionel was heightened by the effectiveness of costume, the positioning of the other characters on the stage, acting in the character, and setting. Mad Jack Lionel is introduced as the antagonist villain and is quick to be judged as the murderer of Laura Wishart. His costume is worn-out, tattered clothes which shows the audience that he is isolated from society in his fashion sense. Mad Jack approaches trespasses with his rifle, which shows that he is not someone you should mess with. The kids of Corrigan attempt to steal his peaches as a sign of bravery, because Mad Jack is one to be feared. The scene is set with a peach tree flown down and make-shift rusty door frame to once again showing the audience that this character is isolated and doesn't get out much, as it looks abandoned.

The scene of Laura Wishart’s body was affected with the elements of the heightening of the slow build of volume in the music, the isolation of a character by costume, and the positioning of the other characters on the stage. In the first act, Charlie seems to have been sheltered from the trouble in the world around him, but his youthful innocence is shattered when Jasper Jones, an older boy born to an Aboriginal mother and white father, taps on his window in the middle of the night asking for help. Jasper takes him to a clearing in the forest where his girlfriend, Laura Wishart's lifeless body hanging from a tree. They can't go to the police, Jasper says, because everyone will blame him, the Aboriginal outcast. Charlie believes Jasper didn't kill Laura, so he helps him hide the body. The audience is sent with shivers down their spine when the proscenium arch is filled with eerie music, as it is unsettling and foreshadows that something bad is about to happen. Laura’s corpse emerges creepily in a blood-stained nightgown, to show that she is now dead. Charlie and Jasper are positions as they are trying to save her, but quickly realize that they cannot save her.

Jasper Jones adapted by Jelk is a contextually-shaped production that employs the use of several multi-faceted characters to carry out a narrative. The use of techniques such as music, lighting, direction costume, characterization, lighting, setting and acting further emphasizes the underlying tone of the play and creates vast imagery for the audience’s enjoyment. It marks a point in time when egalitarianism was not in place, and Australia was still filled with xenophobia and racism. Jelk brilliantly establishes and continues these themes throughout, consequently delivering a compelling narrative that almost all audiences can relate with and enjoy.