“Dimboola” the movie – review by Colin Bennett

The movie “Dimboola” – produced by Pram Factory Pictures Pty Ltd – had it’s Melbourne premiere at the Bercy Cinema on 10 May 1979. Writer, Jack Hibberd; producer, John Weiley; director, John Duigan; leading actors, Max Gillies, Bruce Spence and Natalie Bate; (production accountant, Peter Keenan!).

“Dimboola” was not a critical or popular success, and that’s an understatement. Below is a copy of one of the reviews the movie received, this one by Colin Bennett of The Age. A copy of another review – one by Susan Adler appearing in Cinema Papers – is elsewhere on this site and may be viewed by clicking HERE.


“The messy marriage feast at Dimboola”

Cinema review, The Age, Monday,14 May 1979


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“A Mad World, My Masters” – programme notes and reviews 1978

APG advertisement


Review by Leonard Radic


Review by Barry Oakley

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Part 2 of 2

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“Phar Lap – It’s Cingalese for Lightning Y’know”, review March 1977 by Leonard Radic

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“A Stretch of the Imagination” – rave reviews, 1976

“A Stretch of the Imagination”, a one character play by Jack Hibberd, has been staged many times in many places with different actors in the lead. It has become an Australian classic.

In 1976, when staged in the back theatre of the Pram Factory, the character of Monk O’Neill was played by Max Gillies (directed by Paul Hampton); and the play and performance received rave reviews. Copies of three of those reviews appear below. (The play, with the same actor and director, was staged again at the Pram Factory – this time in the front theatre – in Aug/Sept 1977.)

Neil Jillet described the play as “probably the most beautiful Australian play ever written”; Bob Crimeen said “Hibberd’s masterpiece of hallucinations and shattered dreams gives Gillies the chance to prove his mettle in tragic-comedy”; and a writer for the Sunday Press said “This study of a singular man is Australian writer Jack Hibberd at his best …. Max Gillies as Monk O’Neil, is brilliant and gives Melbourne … the performance of the year”.

(“A Stretch of the Imagination” was first performed at the Pram Factory in 1972, with Peter Cummins as Monk O’Neill, directed by Jack Hibberd.)

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“Phar Lap …” brochure (Turf Notes) – 1977

The Australian Performing Group staged “Phar Lap – it’s Cingalese for lightning, y’know”, written by Steve Mastare) (aka Stephen Mastare, Stephanie Mastare and Ess Mastare), at the Pram Factory theatre in March and April 1977.

Director: Paul Hampton. Cast: Susy Potter, Claire Dobbin, Phil Motherwell, Alison Richards, Wilfred Last, Greig Pickhaver. Design: Micky Allen, Carol Porter. Lighting: Ian McKenzie. Original Music: Andrew Bell. Poster: Bob Daly. Props :Ursula Harrison. Costume: Freda Rowed. Sound Operator: Margot Nash.

Below is a copy of “Turf Notes”, a publicity brochure for the programme.

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“Smack in the Dacks/Smackin the Dacks” bad reviews – 1977

It’s fair to say that Melbourne theatre critics, Leonard Radic and Neil Jillet, did not like the APG’s “Smack in the Dacks”. Below are copies of their reviews: Leonard Radic in The Age (Nov ’77) and Neil Jillett in The Herald (21/11/77).

Picture, The Age, Nov “77

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APG Meetings: A few Minutes and Reports – early 1976

  • Agenda 22/12/1975
  • Executive report 22/12/1975
  • Minutes of Collective Meeting 22/12/1975
  • Minutes of Collective Meeting 29/1/1976
  • Minutes of Special Collective Meeting 9/2/1976
  • Minutes of Collective Meeting 16/2/1976
  • Agenda AGM 29/3/1976
  • Executive Report 29/3/1976
  • Format for radio show “Looping the Loop’ 29/3/1976 (Bill Garner)
  • Proposal by Jon Hawkes “To set up a limited liability company which will make low budget films” – 29/3/1976
  • Minutes of AGM 29/3/1976.
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“The Perambulator”- APG Newsletter – January 1979

Contents:

  • “New Economic Policy for 1979” by Bill Garner
  • “Gang of Three Report” by Kerry Dwyer, Wilfred Last and Richard Murphet
  • “New Space” by Bill Garner
  • “The Pram Social Club” by Bill Garner
  • “Circus Oz at National Gallery” by Robin Laurie
  • “Films at The Pram” by Kerry Dwyer
  • “Dimboola: the film” by John Timlin
  • “100 Artists”
  • “Nightshift on the move”
  • “On not being treated like a minority” by John Romeril
  • “The Young and the Jobless” by Alison Richards
  • “Comings ….. and Goings”
  • “Radio Run Out” by Greig Pickhaver
  • “The Originators”
  • “The APG: Ten years ago”
  • APG Records
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Poster for “A Mad World, My Masters”, 1978

“A Mad World, My Masters”, a musical written by English playwright Barrie Keeffe in 1977, was staged by the Australian Performing Group from January to March 1978.

Director: Wilfred Last. Cast: David Kendall, Bruce Spence, Kerry Dwyer, Phil Motherwell, Bill Garner, Peter Green, Alison Richards, Tim Robertson and Fay Mokotow. Producers: John Timlin, Fay Mokotow. Designed: Peter Corrigan & cast.

Poster for The Radio Active Horror Show – July 1977

The Radio Active Horror Show was written by John Romeril and the group.  Credits for cast, crew, writers, publicity and other persons (excluding office workers) are on the back of the poster.

Poster – A3 – top half
Poster – A3 – bottom half
Poster – A3 – back – top half
Poster – A3 – back – bottom half