Ad Astra Production
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Set in the small town in outback Queensland in the 1960s, Philip Dean’s musical comedy, of two deserted women, Vickie and Rae, both of whom have a passion for singing Country and Western classics, will start your boot scootin’ feet tapping and your heart singing along with Hank Williams and Patsy Kline. Though very different in background and temperament, the conforming Catholic housewife and the brash, lusty and hard-living barmaid, form a bond.
First produced in Brisbane’s La Boite theatre in 1995, this witty, wild musical is set against the wider Australian landscape in a time of feminism, contraception, reds under the bed, conscription and the Vietnam War. It is very funny and very poignant. At “the heart of the story is loneliness, driven by the very primal fear of abandonment”. Come to Ad Astra’s black box production of Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls: let the emotional depth of the music surprise you and these “crazy for being so lonely” women delight you.
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Welcome to Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls.
When I first encountered Philip Dean’s beautiful and uniquely Australian play, I was immediately drawn to its warmth, humour and honesty. On the surface, it is the story of two very different women brought together by circumstance in a remote Queensland town during the 1960s. Beneath that, however, lies a rich exploration of friendship, resilience, identity and the courage required to reinvent ourselves when life does not unfold as we imagined.
Vicki and Rae inhabit a world shaped by expectations—of marriage, religion, gender roles and the changing social landscape of Australia. Both women have been left behind by the men they trusted, yet neither allows loneliness to define her future. Through an unlikely friendship and a shared love of country music, they discover strength in each other and begin to find their own voices.
What makes this play so enduring is its ability to balance laughter and heartbreak with remarkable skill. Dean’s writing captures the wit, resilience and spirit of ordinary Australians while placing their personal struggles against a backdrop of enormous social change. As Australia grappled with questions of independence, identity and its relationship with American culture, Vicki and Rae were confronting their own journeys toward self-determination. Their story remains as relevant today as it was when the play premiered.
Music is the heartbeat of this production. The songs of Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and other country music legends do more than provide a soundtrack—they become a language through which the characters express their hopes, disappointments and dreams. These familiar melodies remind us of the extraordinary power of music to connect us, comfort us and help us make sense of our lives.
Bringing this production to the stage has been a deeply rewarding collaborative process, and I extend my sincere thanks to the exceptional team whose talent and dedication have shaped every aspect of this work. Theatre is inherently a collective art form, and this production has benefited from the creativity, expertise and professionalism of an outstanding cast, creative team and production crew. From the earliest conversations in the rehearsal room to the final technical preparations, each individual has contributed their unique skills, insight and artistry to bring Philip Dean’s world vividly to life. It has been a privilege to work alongside such a committed group of theatre-makers, and this production is a reflection of their passion, craftsmanship and unwavering pursuit of excellence
As you watch tonight’s performance, I invite you to celebrate the humour, humanity and courage of these two remarkable women. Their journey reminds us that friendship can arrive in unexpected places, that independence often begins with a single act of bravery, and that even in our loneliest moments, we are never truly alone.
Thank you for joining us and supporting independent theatre. We hope you enjoy Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls as much as we have enjoyed bringing it to life.
Prue Robb
Director
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Content Warnings TBA
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Cheney Hossack | Vicki
Isabel Kruse | Rae
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Director - Prue Robb
Music Director - Meg Kiddle
Assistant Director/Stage Manager - Vladimir Bartowski
Set Design - Prue Robb
Specialty Prop Design - Wilson Kong
Set Dressing - Kim Phillips, Prue Robb, Vlad Bartowski
Costuming - Erin Lowry
Choreography - Erin Lowry, Oscar Lowe
Sound - Danielle Park
Lighting Design - Dan Endicott
Tech Operator - Kaitlyn Moore
Set Building - Wilson Kong, Evan Robb, Aden Lowry, Santie Peters, Vlad Bartowski, Prue Robb, Dan Kennedy, Kim Phillips
Band/Assistant Musuical Director/Piano - Oscar Lowe
Drums - Chris Tone
Guitar - Nathan Cho/Mik Farnsworth-Sempf/Aden Lowry
Special Thanks Alexander Graves, Alden Sommerfeld, Tanya Graves
Show Poster
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“Ad Astra’s production shines because of the two performers who make every moment of that friendship feel real, from the first spark of connection to the ache of being apart.”
Stage Buzz Brisbane | Read Review Here
Director (and Set Designer) Prue Robb (Assistant Director for Ad Astra’s recent productions of Frankie and Johnny, and Hotel Sorento) has assembled a sterling team – with two superb leading ladies who work brilliantly together, layering drama and music to tell the story of the two ‘cowgirls’ – Vicki and Rae.
Beth Keehn - Stage Whispers | Read Reivew Here
Ad Astra’s decision to stage only Australian works in its small Pluto theatre this year is a wonderful one, and this story of small-town secrets feels especially resonant given its Western Queensland setting. Its uniquely Australian sense of place allows for much nostalgic language and easy humour, but Dean’s work also looks beyond its comic warmth to the wider social landscape of a revolutionary time for women, offering lessons from the past about friendship, independence and the courage required to imagine a different life.
Meredith Walker - Blue Curtains | Read Review Here
