One of the most dire and terrible incidents to disrupt Australian-New Zealand relations was sparked on the cricket pitch, the Kiwis would say by typical underhanded Aussies. The story is now to be dramatised, probably re-provoking Kiwi ire all over again, but then they’ve never really forgiven us for it. Just another long list of things the Kiwis can resent us for I suppose. Here’s the article –
Underarm stink gets dramatic treatment
Tuesday Jan 31 18:06 AEDT
The never ending story of the “underarm incident” is to take centre stage – literally – when a play revisiting the trans-Tasman sporting controversy opens in Palmerston North in September.
The Underarm, complete with an obligatory re-enactment of Trevor Chappell’s final underhand delivery to Brian McKechnie at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 1, 1981, examines the angst caused in both nations through a family spilt by the furore.
Written by Canada-based Feilding playwright David Geary and Justin Gregory, from Radio New Zealand in Wellington, the two man play reunites siblings Colin (the Kiwi) Lewis and Aussie Don at the Basin Reserve for a test match 25 years on from that explosive afternoon.
The brothers, who had a New Zealand mother and Australian father, fell out over the controversial conclusion to the one-day match and when their parents split and moved to opposite sides of the Tasman.
“The family broke up over the game and all that time later the brothers have got together in Wellington in work out their differences,” said Simon Ferry, artistic director of the Centrepoint Theatre where the play opens on September 14.
The brothers, who are yet to be cast, also take on the persona of cricketers who played that infamous game, including Chappell, McKechnie, Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh and Richard Hadlee.
Sir Robert Muldoon and Malcolm Fraser, respective prime ministers at the time, also make an appearance as does Australian legend Sir Don Bradman.
The play also touches on Martin Snedden’s disallowed dismissal of Greg Chappell and the unbeaten 102 scored by Bruce Edgar – possibly the most overlooked century in cricketing history.
Ferry learned of the script late last year and said it was impossible to overlook.
“With it being the (25th) anniversary year it was perfect timing.”
The play is scheduled to run for a month in Palmerston North and may then tour the country.
“Given the story and content it will go well in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, all the centres,” added Centrepoint marketing manager Karl Perigo.
And what about one day taking it on the road to say, Melbourne?
“I’m not so sure,” Ferry cautioned, “I guess we could take it there if there was interest.”
I tend to agree with him, it probably won’t play well in Melbourne. I don’t think anyone in Oz would care much about seeing a play that centres around a bit of bad sportsmanship by Aussie cricketers. Wouldn’t fit the current jingoistic mood of the country. Though if that type of “diplomatic” incident was all you had to worry about in other parts of the world, you’d be laughing. I suppose it is an example of how easy life is here and in NZ that people can get so hot under the collar over a silly cricket game and there is nothing more serious to worry about.
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