b"A PRECIOUS GEM OF A STORYFifteen years since he wrote it, and after many productions and a hugelyI just picked up a pen and started writing down stuff, because some of successful film adaptation, writer Tony Briggs can still sit through the things she was saying were quite fascinating. And still, at this point, I The Sapphires and love every minute of it.wasnt intending to write about her. I was just taking notes, really. Even now, I still love the music, I love watching the audience react, heAs the notes piled up, it became apparent to Briggs that his mums says. And as Ive gotten older with it, I really love seeing the whole ageexperience was an extraordinary one. Aged 21, she was a witness to spectrum in the audience getting into it. history and sometimes she was dangerously close it.A jukebox musical full of classic Motown bangers, The Sapphires tells theAt one point she was held up at gunpoint with some of the band story of four Yorta Yorta sisters from country Victoria whose Supremesmembers, says Briggs. She had a gun to her head and the Vietnamese tribute show catches the eye of a talent scout.translator they had with them basically saved their lives. But this is 1969 and the girls arent destined for the club circuit or aLater in the tour she was shot at in a helicopter. She thought they were spot on In Melbourne Tonight. Instead theyre shipped out to Vietnam tofireworks. Stories like that just blew me away.entertain frontline troops. Only very few works for the stage have been written about Australias Briggs script zeroes in on the discrimination and prejudice faced byinvolvement in Vietnam, Briggs adds. Its something we usually see the young women and captures the social upheaval of the era, but thethrough American eyes and mostly in film. I thought it was important to emphasis is on celebration: of the peerless hits of Motown, Stax andtell the stories of other people who were therewho served in their own Atlantic Records; of Aboriginal culture and its resilience. way. Thats how I see what my mum did now. She served.A lot of people dont realise it was a stage musical before it was a film,Over the past decade and a half, The Sapphires has been a showcase Briggs says. In a theatre, its a really intimate experience and you have afor some of Australias brightest acting and singing talents. The original live band and the girls are singing live right at you. Its vibrant, full of joy. cast featured Deborah Mailman, Rachael Maza, Lisa Flanagan and Ursula Briggs has directed a new production of the play, which is touringYovich. Christine Anu and Casey Donovan starred in later productions. nationwide to more than 140 venues. The cast includes Ngaire Pigram (aMiranda Tapsell, Shari Sebbens and Jessica Mauboy graced the film veteran of the 2011 London season of The Sapphires ), Mindy Kwanten,adaptation. Matilda Brown and Lorinda Merrypor. It touches down at RiversideIm loathed to pick anyone out of this production because theyre all so Theatres, Parramatta, September 2428. great and so talented, says Briggs. But Lorinda Merrypor is someone Its a chance for Briggs to put his stamp on a show that is more thanevery theatre producer in the country should look out for. She's a very personal for him. The Sapphires is, with some elaboration, his mumtalented individual and absolutely loves what she does.Laurel Robinsons early life. I wrote the story as a result of some conversations I had with my mother when she was talking quite a lot about her time in Vietnam, Briggs says.56"