Review - Blak Cabaret

Blak Cabaret

Presented by Malthouse Theatre and SummerSalt

10 – 22 February 2015

Concept and Creative Production – Jason Tamiru

Text - Nakkiah Lui

Staging – Matthew Lutton

Directing Consultant – Michael Kantor

Set and Costume Design – Chloe Greaves

Sound Design – Jed Palmer

Dramaturgy – Mark Prichard

Performers – Kamahi Djordon King as Queen Consitina Bush and Nikki Ashby

Musicians – Deline Briscoe, Emma Donovan, Kutcha Edwards, Bart Willoughby

Between the two rusting and one old brick facade of the Malthouse Courtyard, place an elevated stage and an exceptional sound system.  Then, as balmy evening is about to fall, add some of Indigenous Australia’s most glorious, honey and velvet voiced, musicians playing and singing their own songs - and this beautifully blended recipe will just ‘take you away’.  

But there is more, there is more – a crazy contemporary, wickedly provocative and sadomasochistic,

Kamahi Djordon King and Nikki Ashby - Photo Pia Johnson

big, black and beautiful Drag Queen – Queen Constantina – the monarch of a reversed colonialism demanding the audience’s allegiance at every turn.  Perplexingly she is at odds with the rich spiritual milieu set up by the musicians, and yet, this cabaret is not jarring, just crude fabulous fun, acutely funny and acerbic – full of irony and wit.   There are ‘no holes barred’ as Constantina obsesses over her ‘mutt’ and enthusiastically espouses rimming and fisting.  Pauline Hanson cracks a mention, as, more than once, does the popularity of the book Fifty Shades of Grey.

Nikki Ashby and Kamahi Djordon King - Photo Pia Johnson

Layer on layer - on the surface it is a clever, sharp and witty piece that inverts reality - pretty much successfully.  However this work, enigmatically, touches on the most vital, brutal and important issues affecting Indigenous Australians.  In that it is strong.  Conversely like a bare foot it treads softly, its heart is gentle and exudes the vast spiritual depth evoked by the music, songs and poems that call for understanding.  It is biting but not savage and maybe a testament to how, these clever Indigenous, Performance Makers have a foot in both cultural camps.  

The totally rich and mellow sound of Kutcha Edwards seduces whilst he also displays wicked vocal dexterity.  His voice blends divinely with those of Deline Briscoe and Emma Donovan and Bart Willoughby’s drumming is something to behold.  Kevin Gilbert’s poetry touches the soul.

The audience is targeted a bit so you may not want to sit up the front.  All in all it is a delightful way to spend a balmy evening under the stars. 

Great fun but not frivolous!

(For Stage Whispers)