The Valley of Water, written by the late Jean Allen of 'Dunalan' Wolseley, was performed by the Bordertown drama club in the Bordertown Civic Cinema in June 2008. Two of Jean's grandsons, brothers Jamie and Tom Edwards took parts in the play, which Jean wrote in 1962. The play was written as an entry in a competition for a play for television, run by TVSN 9 North Adelaide, which it duly won from a large field of entries.

A small cast of five brought the play to life for the first time on stage. Directed by Tony Moore from Adelaide and co-directed by Jill Watson from Bordertown, the enthusiastic Bordertown performers gave a moving rendition of the play, which deals with the timeless issues of drought, inter-generational misunderstandings, compulsory acquisition of land and succession of family farms.

Set in the fictional small town of 'Little Valley' near Murray Bridge, the play began with the mundane everyday life of the Smith family. Grandfather Hans, a second generation German pioneer, was portrayed excellently by Greg Window. His daughter-in-law, the discontented but resigned Ivy, was very competently played by Sonia Obst, who grasped well the 'make do' attitude struggling farmers wives adopt. Her husband George, a little brash and keen to appear more successful that perhaps was the case, was well drawn by Jamie Edwards. Son and heir Alby, Rural Youth ambassador, was realistically represented by Andrew Ridgway, coping ok, but a little embarrassed by their 'small farm lifestyle' and looking to spread his wings. Government liason officer Mr Jackson, in an uncomfortable position but making the best of it, was Tom Edwards, stiff in his 'townie' suit, but understanding of the difficulties faced by the family in the end.

Thrown by officialdom from the mundane to the extremes of hardship and change, this play follows the journey of a battling 1950's Australian family dispossessed of their farm and forced to make what they can of their new position. Jean Allen showed a depth of understanding through the characters of this family that seems almost personal. Certainly she followed the wise course of writing about what she knew and the details of country life and relationships ring true.

It was a pleasure to see this play bought to the stage for the first time. Bordertown Drama Group, which was chaired by Jean Allen for many years, had a sincere desire to give the production their best and by the large appreciative audiences evident at each of the three performances, they succeeded admirably.

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Editor

BorderOnline