Reedy River Review (1954)
If you want to go "all Australian", see the New Theatre's show, Reedy River. Whether or not you have ever
been an admirer of old bush-ballads before, you will be converted into a collector of them and they will
come high up in your list of national folk songs. Ready River contains a selection of the warmest, most
rollicking ballads I have ever heard. The story which forms the structure of Dick Diamond's musical comedy
is not particularly strong in itself. It centres on a group of shearers in the 1890's, struggling to win
their cause against the employers, despite the recent defeat of their Union by large companies. Mixed up
with the conflict of Unionist versus blackleg is a somewhat vague broken marriage, which is mended when June
Cairnes as Mary Collins (the wife), realises that Milton Moore as Tom Collins (the man who looks like a
blackleg but is not) has actually talked all the other blacklegs with whom he is working into joining the
Union, thus forcing their employer to pay Union rates, and employ his mates who have been stout Unionists
all the time. The padding is wonderful. With excellent dialogue and production, the shearers and town-folk
become a group of delightful individuals. "Irish", the typically tender, bull-headed type, is outstandingly
portrayed by Kenyon McCarron. His handling of the argument scene is magnificent. Edmund Allison (as Thomo)
and Milton Moore (Tom Collins) play such typical roles that one cannot imagine them any other way. All
supporting roles are excellent, and in particular, Lyle O'Hara takes the character-role of the school-
mistress with perfection. Her recitation of The Brook is a highlight of the performance. The other highlights
are musical spots. Cecil Grivas (the swaggie) sings one especially haunting ballad--My Old Black. Billy, and
the chorus numbers Lazy Harry's, Widgeegoweera Joe and Click go the Shears bring the house down. Milton
Moore's voice is pleasing and every word of the shearing songs, sung by quite a large group, is distinct.
The traditional musical accompaniment is extremely effective in these spots. There is only one weakness. The
mime sequence with the "Bush Picnic Ballet" is out of tone and fails in effect. The good-natured quipping
(delivered with just the right amount of bushies' drawl), and the merry clowning in some of the ballads,
provide the real substance of the presentation, thoroughly enjoyed by cast as well as audience. Sets of the
pub, outside the shearing-shed, and in the schoolhouse are very well executed. Reedy River is showing on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday nights.
--M.N.
Notes
From the Sydney newspaper Le Courrier Australien Friday 26 February 1954 p. 5.