Produced by Blue Trumpet for Radio 2RRR, Hard Boys, a psychodrama for radio, is a uniquely Australian story in 10 parts. Starring Johnny Boxer of the hugely successful Australian TV show, Fat Pizza, he brings the same uniquely Australian voice to this latest production. Well known to Australian audiences as the larger-than-life, chainsaw-wielding ‘Bobo’, Johnny conjures a totally new character, both instantly recognisable and totally perplexing … the original ‘hard boy’.
Suffice it to say, the tale recounts a road trip, back in the early 70s, from Surfers Paradise to Mt Isa and thence to Weipa. It follows Johnny and his sidekick Joe the runaway, on a trip by coalcar to Mt Isa. They team up with Pip the Pommy psycho and Warren and his ute, and embark on a career of escalating violence and mayhem in Mt Isa in a war of attrition with the ‘Sheriff’, local hard boy.
The yarn is recounted over a few beers, quite a few beers, with some pickup mates. The mates are in the pub to listen to music of the early 70s about which they all have strong opinions. Probably the only thing they have strong opinions about. But Johnny takes them along for the ride as they become bit characters in his psychodrama.
The saga culminates in a huge fight at a miner’s camp after which they need to leave town in a hurry. Battling an ailing car, worsening road conditions, and problems with the police, they come to the end of their road in a rainforest. Pip and Warren hitch on to Weipa.
The tale is accompanied by Johnny’s songs and poems which document the real drama taking place … the interior drama … the soul’s journey … to the Australian heart of darkness.
Listen to a message from Johnny Boxer.
Episode 1 on-line from 25 February!