By NOEL MURPHY
FEW figures in Australian history command as much attention as bushranger Ned Kelly.
Loved and hated alike, stories and accounts of Kelly range from hard fact to wild fiction with everything in between.
His iconic helmet features in artworks from Sidney Nolan’s trademark series to filmmaker Nadia Tass’ Malcolm with its remote-controlled ashtray bandits suspiciously like Kelly’s armour.
He’s been celebrated in song and film – Mick Jagger played him in the 1970s – as well as in book, verse and documentary.
His bones were desecrated by authorities, his skull is missing, his gang’s armour was chronically displayed incorrectly, author Peter Carey had him in love with his cousin and the descendants of black trackers who helped police pursue him have long moaned about outstanding payments.
No depredation, romancing or re-telling of the Kelly story is likely to settle the account of the Irish convict’s son who went to God on the order of Redmond Barry for the murder of Constable Thomas Lonigan at Stringybark Creek.
Ned Kelly’s name has become a byword for courage; an Australian Robin Hood supporter of the underdog.
A dramatic new play, Kelly, headed Geelong’s way takes the story in yet another direction.
The Queensland Theatre company production has Kelly in a grimy cell at the Old Melbourne Gaol the night before his execution when his brother and fellow gang member Dan, who Ned believes had died at the siege in Glenrowan, visits disguised as a priest.
He’s seeking Kelly’s blessing and forgiveness but the last time they saw each other Dan tried to shoot Ned.
And so begins a brutal confrontation.
Facing the sins of their past, each blames the other for their downfall. And neither will escape unharmed.
Exploring the themes of masculinity, brotherhood and the dangerous dynamic of mateship, Kelly raises the oft-raised question about the Kellys – where they cowards, murderers or heroes?
“Modern Australian theatre has been curiously silent about Ned Kelly,” said writer Matthew Ryan.
“I intend to fill that silence. Loudly.”
And he just might – but he’s unlikely to be the last to do so.
Part of Geelong Performing Arts Centre’s 2015 Deakin University Theatre Season, Kelly will be staged in GPAC’s Drama Theatre from 15 to 18 April.
