No Sugar (play)

"No Sugar" is a play written by Jack Davis which is intended to expose Australian racism. It is a story set during the Great Depression, which looks into the life of the Millimurras, an Australian Aboriginal family and their attempts at subsistence.

The play explores the marginalisation of women and Aborigines within 1920s and 1930s Australian society. The pivotal themes in the play include racism, white empowerment/superiority, Aboriginal disempowerment, the materialistic values held by the white Australians, Aboriginal dependency on whites and the value held by the Aborigines of family.

A. O. Neville, the Chief Protector of Aborigines during the period in which the play is set, appears as a character.

The play was first performed by the Playhouse Company in association with the Australian Theatre Trust, for the Festival of Perth on 18 February 1985.

Characters

Jimmy Munday -the main character - he is an Aboriginal man who despises the fact he is not equal in society and is not regarded as a 'person' by the government. he has a heart condition which leads to his death after arguing with Mr Neville at the Australia Day celebrations. Jimmy is a main character.

Gran Munday -Jimmy's mother, a traditional Aboriginal woman, she dislikes the new 'white mans' ways and strongly believes in the importance of family. She is the matriarch of the family and supports her son and daughter and grandchildren. Gran is a supporting character.

Milly Millimurra -Jimmy's sister, who has three children. She stands up for what she believes is right and does her best to care for her children. She dislikes being treated badly, but realises there is nothing she can do.

Sam Millimurra -Milly's husband. Frequently caught with Jimmy breaking the law but is not as outgoing and vocal as his brother-in-law. He understands that they are treated unequally, but really does nothing to try and stop it. He is a supporting character.

Joe Millimurra - Mary's love interest and Milly's eldest son

Cissie Millimurra - Milly's daughter

David Millimurra - Milly's youngest son

A. O. Neville - Chief Protector of Aborigines

Miss Dunn, his secretary

Mr Neal - Superintendent of Moore River Native Settlement

Matron Neal - his wife, Matron of the hospital.

Sister Eileen - a Catholic missionary

Sergeant Carrol - sergeant of the Northam Police

Constable Kerr - Northam Police

Frank Brown - an unemployed farmer, who makes friends with Jimmy after agreeing to buy him alcohol.

Mary Dargurru - Joe's future wife, lives at settlement

Billy Kimberley - Black tracker, an Aboriginie working for Mr Neal. He enforces discipline against the other Aboriginies and 'tracks' runaways. For this reason he is viewed by the Aboriginies as something of a traitor or "black crow."

Bluey - Black tracker

Topsy - Settlement girl, assisting Matron

Justice of the Peace - a farmer who sentences Frank Brown, Jimmy and Sam for alcohol abuse.