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Sad Digger Mad Mary Illuminates Taboo

Mick Pacholli
Mick Pachollihttps://www.tagg.com.au
Mick created TAGG - The Alternative Gig Guide in 1979 with Helmut Katterl, the world's first real Street Magazine. He had been involved with his fathers publishing business, Toorak Times and associated publications since 1972.  Mick was also involved in Melbourne's music scene for a number of years opening venues, discovering and managing bands and providing information and support for the industry. Mick has also created a number of local festivals and is involved in not for profit and supporting local charities.        

Many men who returned from what was called The Great War, WWI, were shattered individuals that ‘humped their blueys‘ into the bush to find solitude from a society that they can no longer integrate back into. Although this story is based on WWI more modern references interwoven suggest to me the more universal story of the terrible state in which we leave our forgotten warriors to struggle with alone.

This story is hilariously dark and breaks through the archetypal stoic character of the returned ANZACs as Tom Hall’s plays the ever-busy Digger in his bush camp, beautifully authentic design Anastassia Poppenberg, with his companion Bluey, a red healer – hilarious prop humour – and his billy tea.

Tortured by dreams of his mate who he lost in the war, a terrible, somewhat unimaginably horrible existence in the trenches where men found love and comfort sometimes amongst their brother in arms, a taboo that often was dealt with in extraordinarily brutal and demeaning manner when found out.

Digger’s life is about to change with the Poppinesque appearance of mysterious, crazy therapist Mary, also played by Tom Halls, who slips seamlessly between Digger, Mad Mary and an mc/announcer, faultlessly directed by Yvonne Virsik.

Digger finds some comfort and starts to regain his perspective with the timely intervention of Mary and somehow the healing begins.

Our collective consciousness about the events of war and the shame and horror perpetrated on our young men that are sent to war to fight for King and country is so often glossed over in heroic vestige that the uncomfortable truth is glossed over so often…this play breaches the lines to bring light on what was a lonely and painful reality for thousands of young Australian males.

Lest We Forget.

La Mama Courthouse

3-5 February 2017

Written and Performed by Tom Halls

Directed by Yvonne Virsik

Produced by Anastasia Ryan

Designed by Anastassia Poppenberg

Lighting Design by Jason Crick

Mick Pacholli

Mick created TAGG - The Alternative Gig Guide in 1979 with Helmut Katterl, the world's first real Street Magazine. He had been involved with his fathers publishing business, Toorak Times and associated publications since 1972.  Mick was also involved in Melbourne's music scene for a number of years opening venues, discovering and managing bands and providing information and support for the industry. Mick has also created a number of local festivals and is involved in not for profit and supporting local charities.        

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Many men who returned from what was called The Great War, WWI, were shattered individuals that ‘humped their blueys‘ into the bush to find solitude from a society that they can no longer integrate back into. Although this story is based on WWI more modern...Sad Digger Mad Mary Illuminates Taboo