Award night at Melbourne Fringe, October 2, 2016
by Mary W Maxwell, PhD, LLB
On 18 September, 2016, I put on a show, for a tiny audience, at the Melbourne Fringe.
The name of the one-man show was Podstava, in honor of the late Tamerlan Tsarnaev. I did manage to sing my new song “How Are Things in Assachusetts?” without going drastically off pitch, however I pretty well mauled the main act. It was a “Moot Court Trial for Martin Bryant.”
Still, we could produce this show again if some law students (or show-biz types) would be willing to take part. I played most of the roles myself. A “member of the audience” came up on stage to play Martin Bryant. Namely, Dee.
The script she used for that? the famous police interview of July 4, 1996. Remember the line “I’m missing the rabbit stews Mum makes for me”?
I’m willing to put on the moot-court play in any city or town. If you want to be the rabbit-stews person, you could audition, Dee could audition, and we’ll see who gets the part.
Maybe Martin Bryant will get the part. That would be nice.
Herewith the first two minutes of the show, which sets out the general theme.
If you are willing to become a star, please contact me as soon as possible and I will send you the script.
Mary Maxwell’s productions have nil copyright, so please steal ’em.
Photo credit: melbournefringe.com.au
Five dollars says Cheryl Dean is going to come in with “We should have a moot for Dzhokhar”.
Not a bad idea. Tho I wish she would call him Jahar, which is that much easier to type.
This just in. You can’t make his stuff up.
From The Hill:
“Hurricane Matthew is bearing down on the Southeastern United States — with possible political consequences in the weeks to come.
“In 2012, Superstorm Sandy hit New York and New Jersey just a week before Election Day, creating an October surprise
“The deadly 2016 hurricane could still could shake up the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as competitive Senate and gubernatorial races in Florida and North Carolina, where it is expected to hit.
““It could dominate U.S. news media for several days, not unlike a terrorist attack,” said Republican strategist …”
Natural disasters are a reminder of our mortality. Therefore they’re a major threat to the powers-that-be.
Every Australian has a role in this play and the typecasting can never be lived down
OK, a bit more for the auditioning:
Police: We believe you went to the Broad Arrow Cafe with that bag over there, containing some guns and your video camera. You purchased a meal, you went outside, sat down
Martin: But you might’ve. That’s like me saying to you, that you were down there. Why, why would anyone do a thing like that, What, what, would, I wouldn’t hurt a person in my life. And you reckon you’ve got dozens of witnesses.
Police: Certainly have.
Martin: Where are they?
Police: Where are they?
Martin: Mmm, the witness. Have you got any other photos to show me?
Police: Do you want to see the photo’s?
Martin: Of the witnesses if you’ve got them.
Police: You’re in a little bit of trouble Martin aren’t you? Would you say?
Martin: I dunno, I spose I am. I’d like to get, get hold of some bail money. He said, are you Mr Martin Bryant. I said, yes. He said, you’re remanded in custody till this … inaudible … I didn’t even come to the hearing, okay ‘cos I wasn’t well … inaudible… I should see me solicitor about bail.
Police: I mean do you think that people should accept the consequences of what they do?
Martin: Yeah I do. …I’m missing my Mum. I really miss her actually, what she cooks up for me, her rabbit stews and everything. She’s not even allowed to bring a little bit of food for me, that, that’s a bit upsetting. Mmm.
Policing has certain common threads no matter where you go. This report confirms that false confessions can be exacted without applying physical force