Jack Thompson - The Poems of Henry Lawson

CD Review by John Williams
There have been many fine actors who have undertaken performances of Australian poetry over the years.
My introduction to performance poetry was hearing the late Leonard Teale reciting ‘The Man From Snowy River’ as a schoolboy. The memory and excitement of that performance never left me and helped instill a lifetime love of Australian poetry in me. I have also been inspired by the performances of John Derum (C.J.Dennis) and Geoffrey Graham (Banjo Paterson) over the years.
Now we have the fine voice of Jack Thompson reciting the poems of Henry Lawson as part of a series of CDs on Australian poetry and bush yarns.
There are thirteen tracks on the CD. Old favorites such as ‘The Lights of Cobb and Co’, ‘Faces in the Street’ and ‘The Shearer’s Dream‘ are to the fore in this CD. My personal favorite is ‘The Fire at Ross’s Farm.’ It brought back memories of my favorite Grade 5 teacher, Mr.Lewis, and his love of bush poetry which he passed on to his charges.
Sadly this doesn’t happen much these days but this CD would be a good beginning for parents wanting to introduce their children to Australian poetry. Of course you could always take them to a Poets’ Breakfast at most folk festivals!
One of Lawson’s most powerful poems is also featured. I speak of ‘Scots of the Riverina’ surely one of the best examples of Lawson’s work. Jack Thompson recites it with real meaning. You don’t become Australia’s most enduring actor without real talent. To put that talent into an obvious labour of love as Thompson has done in this series of Australian poetry means the result is terrific.
If you love your Australian poetry then this is a must have CD.
I enjoyed it and have no hesitation in recommending it.