"Our Country's Good"

     On October 29th students from Monterey, Lubbock High, and Coronado
 theater departments combined their talents and produced a play in three days. 
Under the direction of Royal Brantley from West Texas A&M University, these
amazing students built a breathtaking set, collected props and costumes, created
sound and light plots and published a program in less than three days. Hence 
comes the name of the project, Theater Marathon. "Our Country's Good" was 
chosen as this year's production.

     "Our Country's Good," written by Timberlake Wertenbake is set in the late 
1780's. The leaders of England were desperate to rid their country of what they
called the "marauders within," the many petty thieves, pickpockets, and ruffians 
that filled the streets of London. Shipping prisoners to Australia was the answer. 
Captain Arthur Phillip landed on the Coast of Australia with some 800 convicts
and 200 English soldiers. Captain Phillips did not want only a penal colony, he 
wanted civilization with culture and education, and of course, he wanted justice. 
Governor Phillip tried his best to create citizens rather than convicts. "Our Country's 
Good" is not only about society's preoccupation with prisons and its fear of 
forgetfullness towards education and the arts, it is about theater, and how it 
serves to bring dignity and thought and passion to its audiences and players alike.