Arts

Rolling Thunder Vietnam – a fine tribute to our heroes

War is not a particularly easy subject to tackle in the sphere of dramatic performance, as it is easy to trivialize the realities of battle into ‘feel good’ generalisations rather than to confront the horrors and impact that it has on humans. Fortunately, Blake Entertainment’s ‘Rolling Thunder Vietnam- Songs That Defined A Generation’ has the formula worked out to military precision and absolutely ‘gets it’ in this outstanding tribute to the heroes of a controversial war that polarized the nation during the sixties

rollingthunderFriday Sep 20 2014. Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide.(Final Night)

War is not a particularly easy subject to tackle in the sphere of dramatic performance, as it is easy to trivialize the realities of battle into ‘feel good’ generalisations rather than to confront the horrors and impact that it has on humans. Fortunately, Blake Entertainment’s ‘Rolling Thunder Vietnam- Songs That Defined A Generation’ has the formula worked out to military precision and absolutely ‘gets it’ in this outstanding tribute to the heroes of a controversial war that polarized the nation during the sixties.

The theme was a focus on the music and mood of the times, as well as narration by characters that intertwined with the soundtrack in what is a very thoughtful tribute to the brave souls who served in Vietnam.

Set amidst a backdrop of olive drab camouflage nets and four large screens that provided visual imagery of the Vietnam War, this concert drama was supported by a tremendous live band under maestro Chong Lim’s musical direction.

Told through the eyes of Andy (Wes Carr), Johnny (Tom Oliver), Thomas (Matt Pearce) and Sarah (Kimberley Hodgson), the characters represented the personal stories of both those who served and their loved ones, and chronicled the harsh realities of separation, loss and grief in the war that we followed the US into, going ‘all the way with LBJ’.

Supported vocally by Vanessa Krummenacher and Will Ewing, the cast resurrected the soundtrack that defined a generation and breathed new life into songs from a time of our nations awakening into a new dawn. Songs such as ‘Fortunate Son’ and ‘Run Through The Jungle’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival, as well as ‘Born To Be Wild’ by Steppenwolf, were anthems synonymous with both the battle in the jungles of Vietnam, and the battle at home between those who were for and against the war. This show delves into the political side just enough to acknowledge it existed, but honours our Diggers in its sheer honesty and focus on the people who were involved rather than those who sent them there.

The first half related more to the early days of our involvement, where national service and the transformation of strapping lads from the bush and suburbs into trained killers was the theme de jour. The songs supporting this Act included ‘Most people I Know’ (Billy Thorpe), ‘The Real Thing’ (John Young), ‘Black Magic Woman’ (Alan Green) and of course ‘Born To Be Wild’ (Steppenwolf). Along with the imagery on screen, the songs easily enabled the viewer to feel the essence of life during the sixties, the innocence, and uncertainty as well as the emergence of Australian troops as revered fighting men upholding our beloved ANZAC traditions.

Some songs could have been mixed a little stronger vocally, as occasionally lyrics were inaudible, but this could be easily forgotten due to the energy put into each number by the exceptional cast. The monologues adequately add weight to the mood and avoid the typical generalizations of War but could have been delivered with more emotion at specific times,

Act Two stepped up the pace somewhat, with the theme shifting to the protests, disillusionment and homecoming. The songs ‘War’ (Edwin Starr) and ‘What’s Going On?’ (Marvin Gaye). The stories and letters that gave reverence to the human stories became more personal and showed what many mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters must have experienced with their loved ones stuck in a place most of us had never heard of.

By the time we were finally pulling out of Vietnam, ‘We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place’ (The Animals) was the song that summed it all up, and judging by the fist pumping it was obvious that the audience felt every bit of elation that the soldiers returning must have felt. By the time the final song came, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ (Simon & Garfunkel), it was evident that the night had touched the emotions of numerous Vietnam Veterans in the audience, as they could be seen wiping their eyes as the memories of their youth, displayed before us all, came flooding back.

As the tolls of the war showing the lives lost and damaged were displayed on the screens, the show came to a close in what was a poignant reminder of the human aspect and harsh realities of war. These were real people thrown into difficult and perilous circumstances that weren’t properly thanked for their sacrifice, and were scorned by some for their involvement in the Vietnam War.

Undoubtedly, performances such as Rolling Thunder Vietnam can serve not only as an informal Welcome Home Parade for those who served, but as a way of helping to heal wounds that weren’t properly treated when they came home.

This was the final night of the performances, but hopefully we’ll get to see Rolling Thunder Vietnam again.

Reviewed by Darren Hassan

 

 

 

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