Suzie Miller has done a rare thing in Australian Theatre - recently getting a cover story in the Australian Women's Weekly, after a couple of years writing plays that get international hit productions (between "Prima Facie" and "Inter Alia"), and also developing strong commissioned works to wide Australian audiences ("RBG" most recently). "Strong is the New Pretty" is a dramatisation of how the WAFL came together and the first season, looking at some of the challenges and its eventual success, and has a lot of the same strengths, together with a virtuoso staging by Sarah Giles.
The narrative is abstracted through three main characters - an AFL administrator (Tara Morice) who believes strongly in pushing the code to find ways to incorporate women, a high profile lawyer who joins the board of commissioners (Lucy Bell), and an eager coach (Amber McMahon) - with the remaining cast playing a mix of roles from players to board members to commentators to whatever is required (at my performance with assistant Director Julia Robertson fitting in smoothly for an indisposed Contessa Treffone). There's some strong staging here - the simple design by Christina Smith has an over-head videoboard to provide titles, locations, scores and commentary (video designed by Craig Wilkinson). Kelley Abbey provides movement that lets the cast move as blocks and to re-enact gameplay, and the narrative moves slickly. If there is a slight complaint, it's that, being a history play, the success of the WAFL does feel inevitable almost from the second the ball starts rolling - there isn't a lot of space spent on resistance (though certainly the uglier side of football fans does get shown).
Miller has another hit on her hands - even if more of a local one (I can't see this having the international potential of "Facie" and "Alia" due to its topic), but it's definately a play that will resonate strongly and loudly.
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