Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Perth Festival: Black Ties ★★★½

by John Harvey and Tainui Tukiwaho
Ilbijerri Theatre Company and Te Rehia Theatre
STC Studio
Feb 13 - 16



It doesn’t take long to get the idea. The opening tableau of Black Ties is a series of gorgeous panoramic bush sunrises, with a chorus of native birds singing along to Edvard Grieg’s Morning Mood.

Then we meet the loving couple at the centre of the play, handsome Kane Baker (Mark Coles Smith) and blushing Hera Tapuwera (Tuakoi Ohia).

No need to fasten our seatbelts. We are not in for a bumpy ride tonight.

Sure, the path to wedded bliss has the odd thorn sprinkled among the roses that strew it, but the happily ever afters aren’t likely to be ultimately denied our young lovers.

Chief among the thorny questions that provide most of the play’s humour and all of its tension is obvious; what will two proud families, one Aboriginal, one Maori, going to make of this union of star-crossed lovers? Will the kids be able to steer through to safe waters, or will their families go all Capulet and Montague on them? Who will be the wise heads, and who will be the hot ones?
Read my complete review in Seesaw

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