Unkind Cuts (excerpt)

Synopsis:

When Campbell Newman ascended to the premiership of Queensland in 2012, one of his first policy measures was to slash the arts budget.

Very loosely based on ‘The Mikado’, ‘Unkind Cuts’ shreds whatever little remained of Newman’s credibility.

Character Breakdown:

Seven-hander:  6 males, 1 female

PEACHUM The Premier

FILCH The Treasurer

LOCKIT  Minister for Education

MACHEATH  Attorney-General

TWITCHER  Minister for Health

BUDGE  Minister for Sport

BILL (female actor)  Minister for the Arts  / GHOST OF ANNA BLIGH The Former Premier  – one actor

With the exception of BILL, the others are all dressed as English public schoolboys, in shorts, blazers, caps, boaters, etc.

Whenever not directly involved in dialogue, they are repeatedly engaged in shoving, jostling, pranking, wrestling and the kind of wholesale, somewhat violent buffoonery that accompanies a mindless excess of testosterone.

With the exception of the final number, the music is all taken from The Mikado, with piano accompaniment.  The lyrics are ‘adapted’.

Running-time: 80 minutes.

Production History: Not yet produced.

Excerpt available for download for free.