Handling the “physically demanding” role of Jasper Jones in the play of the same name is half the battle for indigenous actor Guy Simon.
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‘’Representing indigenous people of a certain time, you have a huge weight on your shoulder to honour them and not parody them, but do them justice,’’ Simon said.
The Sydney actor does just that playing 16-year-old ‘’outcast’’ Jasper Jones, who comes from a mixed heritage and is often blamed when something goes wrong in the 1965 fictional WA town of Corrigan.
That’s exactly what happens when Jasper stumbles upon a terrible crime in the scrub nearby.
This prompts him to seek the help of his smart little friend Charlie Bucktin.
The beloved Australian coming of age story is told through the eyes of 13-year-old narrator Charlie (Tom Conroy), who takes great delight that ‘’naughty boy’’ Jasper is taking him on a ‘’Mark Twainesque adventure’’.
‘’But he [Charlie] very quickly begins to realise that the world is a much more complex and sadder and scarier place than he realises,’’ Conroy said.
The actor said it helped that Australian audiences knew the story well.
‘’One of the great things about this play is that we have people who come to see the play who love the book,’’ Conroy said.
‘’It [Jasper Jones] is one of the best selling Australian books of fiction for young people in a long time.
‘’I think the story holds a dear place in a lot of people’s hearts and there is a real delight for a lot of people who know and love the story to see it brought to life on stage.’’
Kate Mulvany’s adaption of Craig Silvey’s award-winning novel, Jasper Jones plays at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre from February 22-25.
Tickets for the Belvoir production cost $49-$84 and can be purchased online at merrigong.com.au/ or 4224 5999.