REVIEW: Jasper Jones

The year is 1965 and Jasper Jones (Guy Simon) has just awoken Charlie Bucktin (Tom Conroy) in their little town of Corrigan, Western Australia. Bringing Charlie into the scrub, Jasper reveals that he has discovered something terrible – the dead body of a girl – and the two boys are thrust into a quest for the truth.

Kate Mulvany’s adaptation of Craig Silvey’s much-beloved bildungsroman tale is both lively and endearing. Touching on race and gender inequality, the play is surprisingly light-hearted despite its dark subject matter, with rippling dialogue driving the narrative through its two acts. 

Conroy appears a convincing 14-year-old, charmingly naïve against Simon’s fragile yet world-weary Jasper Jones. Supporting cast, Kate Box, Steve Le Marquand, Matilda Ridgway and Charles Wu are all delightful additions, with Wu in particular injecting much needed joie de vivre in some of the play’s most poignant scenes. 

Despite one staging mishap where a cricket ball thrown across the audience was begging to be dropped, the play makes terrific use of the Belvoir’s stage. Credit must also go to set designer, Michael Hankin whose beautiful gum tree is the play’s one constant, emphasised in turn by Matt Scott’s evocative lighting.

Closing to rapturous applause on opening night, Jasper Jones is one for the whole family.  Heartwarming despite its devastating final twist, the play is a reminder, particularly in our current context, that strength of character is far more enduring than hatred. As the play puts it, “the more you have to risk, the braver you are for standing up”. (ES)

★★★★1/2

Until Feb 19, varied performance times. Belvoir St Theatre, 18-25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills. $49-$72. Tickets & info: www.belvoir.com.au

BY EMILY SHEN