Set in 1840 on the mythical island of Canberra. For sixty years the island has been the dumping ground for students, the unemployed, musicians, poets and other social riff-raff. The government universities, pubs and coffee shops that were established to implement strict social control experiments have failed. In an effort to re-establish conformity amongst the country's citizens, razor gangs from the Ministry of Social Reform have orchestrated a major slashing campaign to all areas of the island's economic funding. It is the story of a greed, lust, power, revenge, sex, murder, heroism, betrayal and true love, focusing on a small band of student revolutionaries led by Hanrahan and their fight against the evil Colonel Alistair MacJones.
Conceived and developed as a low budget production suitable for university or high school students, 'The Last Word', has been adapted from a work-in-progress melodrama text by Brisbane-based writer, Cameron Davies. The musical score is essentially rock/pop in style.
Songs: 1. (Slightly Late Overture) "The Last Word" ; 2. - "Victory Song" 3. "Sweet Mischief" 4. "What's a Girl to Do?" 5. "Time Will Tell" ; 6. "Is it the Right Thing?" ; 7. "Sweet Mischief" (Slight Return) ; 8. "The Best Laid Plans" ; 9. "What Can We Do?" ; 10. "Villain's Theme" ; 11. "Hero's Theme" ; 12. "I Only Followed Orders" ; 13. "Lingua Franca Love" ; 14. "Heroes and Villains."
1997 : Cement Box Theatre, Brisbane; 9-19 April. Dir/Music Dir/Design Marcel Dorney ; Prod. Aquarius/Gemini Productions and Pandemonium Theatre ; Assist Dir/Music Dir/Design Clay Djubal ; Lighting Design Geoff Squires ; Lighting Andrew McDevitt ; Chor. Jacqui Hall with Helen Zelinski ; Sound. Paula Quinn. - Cast: Jonathon Jackson (Col. McJones), Justin Cooper-White (Hanrahan), Cassandra Prucha (Kitty), Rob McCathie (Major Fowler/Citizen), Michael Swifte (Murphy), Lyndon Daly (Sgt. Duncan), Zoe Houghton (O'Shea), Amy Lush (Mulligan), Belinda Ramsden (Rooney), Chris Thomas (Doyle), Shammus Cahill (O'Shaunessy), Paula Quinn (Constance), Clay Djubal (Lawyer/Soldier/Game Show Host), Marcel Dorney (Soldier/Game Show Host), Helen Zelinski (Waiter). - Musicians: The Last Word Band (Marcel Dorney, Thom McGhie, Clay Djubal); with additional instruments by Rob McCathie, Cassandra Prucha, Shammus Carhill, Lyndon Daly. Billy Hill and the Ordinaries : Michael Swifte, Justin Cooper-White, Cassandra Prucha, Rob McCathie.
