The New Black

While waiting in the foyer to see The New Black, the first in a series of three new musicals up for workshopping in Arts Centre Melbourne’s Carnegie 18 New Music Theatre project, I did not know what to expect. However, with the programme listing a cast of seasoned performers, including Shane Connor, Lisa Maza, Chelsea Gibb and Kirk Page, and with Deborah Cheetham in attendance, the prospect was promising.

We weren’t let down. We were treated to a tightly and well-crafted taster of what promises to be an hilarious yet challenging musical. The New Blackfollows the story of Jim (Leeroy Bilney), young indigenous lawyer who reconnects with his cultural roots after rejecting them in order to succeed in the corporate world. Through music and cheeky humour the show draws the audience in to explore issues of racism and cultural heritage in a way that kept them on their toes but a smile on their faces.

As it was, our taste of it was vibrant. After an small introduction by writer and developer Stephen Helper the lights went up and we were launched headlong into the first number, sung by the cast in Sister Actgospel fashion and led by Kirk Page as our narrator Curtis. The show continued as a set of scenes seamlessly joined by Curtis’s narration.

The mood of each scene was beautifully illustrated by Corowa’s score, which varied in style according to the mood, insightful direction, and the wonderful performances given by the cast. Leeroy Bilney was a standout as Jim, easily capturing the difficulties of Jim’s situation as one caught between cultures. Eileen Crombie, as Jim’s bitter Aunt Eileen, and Chelsea Gibb as Jim’s corporate and professional yet down-to-earth and savvy girlfriend were also standout.

The importance of both Stephen Helper’s collaboration with Bilney and indigenous composer and co-writer Marcus Corowa, as well as the number of indigenous performers in the show, was quite clear; the manner in which some of the topics were broached would have been unacceptable and very uncomfortable were this not the case.

Jessica Carrascalao Heard

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