On the night before his execution, Ned Kelly sits in his grimy cell at Old Melbourne Gaol when his brother Dan, who Ned believes died at Glenrowan, visits disguised as a priest.
Dan is seeking his brother's forgiveness before fleeing to Queensland to put his ugly past behind him, with a new name and a new life. While history states Dan Kelly perished in the Glenrowan Hotel fire, Queensland playwright Matthew Ryan explores Dan’s betrayal, escape and plans for a new life in 'Kelly' which plays at the Logan Entertinament Centre on 17 March as well as touring nationally until July.
Playing Ned Kelly, Steven Rooke spoke with Carley McCarroll from Logan City Council about the trials and tribulations of the legendary bushranger.
What’s it like to play one of Australia’s most notorious/infamous crime figures?
I'm often asked about the pressure of portraying an icon on stage, but I honestly don't feel it. The fact that he lived in a time before film means there is room for interpretation that can't really be argued. So I get to play my version as he was written by Matthew Ryan. And I really like the characterisation of Ned that we have come up with. He's a tremendous amount of fun.
Have you got any insight into the man from spending so long portraying him on stage? Of course. There's a huge amount of literature written about him and all of it points to a fiercely loyal and almost supernaturally strong man surviving under the harshest conditions.
Where do you fall on the Kelly legend – hero or criminal?
I've played a lot of characters with questionable morals and the trick to getting them right is not to judge them negatively. From that perspective, he is neither hero nor villain to me, just a man doing his best to uphold what he believes is 'right'. Whether people buy that idea or not is not for me to assume.
The Kelly Gang won notoriety for essentially committing terror crimes – why do you think they have been embraced in Australian folklore and culture as cult figures?I think Australia's convict past lends itself to embracing those that fight against the system. The white population in this country are mostly descendants of the criminal class and I think there's an element of that which has been passed down. There's a part of a lot of us that would like to believe that we would be as stoic in the face of crisis as he was.
What are your thoughts on the relationship between Dan and Ned?
I'm pretty certain that Ned would have preferred that Dan wasn't there, if only to keep him out of trouble. There's no doubt that they were a family that were passionate about each other's well being. But once the chips had fallen, it was his duty to protect his little brother, the same way he fought to protect the rest of his family after his father passed away when Ned was still very young.
If Dan did survive the siege of Glenrowan, why choose Queensland?That's a trick question, right? Why not choose Queensland? It's one of the most beautiful places on earth. And would have had the added advantage of being close enough to keep tabs on his surviving family members. There are stories about him ending up in South Africa, fighting in the Boer War, but can you honestly imagine a Kelly fighting for the English?
What would motivate a brother to on one hand, shoot to kill his brother, and the other want to save him from the noose?
If it's true, I can only imagine that Dan was trying to save Ned from the noose by shooting at him, sparing him the trial and public scrutiny. Plus he had 28 bullet wounds, so he was a dead man walking anyway. Perhaps they had a pact that allowed for this outcome. Who knows?
You’re reprising your role as Ned – what is it about the Kelly legend that brings you back?There's so many reasons. The Queensland Theatre Company season in 2012 was one of the highlights of my stage life. Even on the hardest days, once the lights went down and the music started, there was never a moment that didn't feel real. Matt spoke about the feeling of ghosts watching him write this script, and it's somewhat the same performing it. It's almost as if 130 years of myth and legend steps on stage alongside us.
What sort of research (if any) did you do to try and understand the mindset of a Kelly Gang member?
As much as I could. There's so many books on the subject, and honestly, a lot of them are awful, full of speculation and the author's opinion. I read one that dared to assume what Dan and Steve were thinking while trapped in the inn. But Ian Jones wrote the Ned Kelly bible and it was from there that I drew most of my inspiration. It's just the facts, of which there are more than enough to flesh out almost all of this fascinating story.
'Kelly' plays the Logan Entertainment Centre, 17 March. Queensland Theatre Company tours 'Kelly' nationally, 13 March to 21 July.
