A Black Joy (2)

Deep underneath the shops and restaurants of Flinders Lane, a parallel world comes into being when A Black Joy takes on wild themes of celebrity, sibling rivalry and serial killing.

MELBOURNE FRINGE 2009

A Black Joy
fortyfivedownstairs
Sunday September 27 2009

Deep underneath the shops and restaurants of Flinders Lane, a parallel world comes into being when A Black Joy takes on wild themes of celebrity, sibling rivalry and serial killing.

Disbelief is suspended through the incredible attention to detail that has gone into the stylised staging, lighting, sound and set design. The sparse set is dominated by the vast body of the grossly obese ‘John Candy’, supine on his huge hospital bed draped in a sheet at centre stage. His white bulk inventively acts as a screen for projected images throughout the performance.

Intersecting pairs of characters play out a bizarre series of events as this modern morality tale unfolds. Their names come from the pages of American celebrity magazines. A device which initially jars, then amuses, and adds to the overarching style of this piece. The exception being the glamorous female protagonist depicted on promotional material for A Black Joy who remains nameless.  While the other cast members use their own Australian accents, this character is American.

Popular culture is lambasted light-heartedly while more weighty issues of betrayal, narcissism and fear are dealt with a cutting, dark humour.

The performers are accompanied by a cellist who brilliantly sets the tone and atmosphere of each scene.  A highlight being the conversation between ‘Diane Keaton’ and her unseen cleaner, with the cello playing the cleaner.

As the disturbing story unfolds you are compelled to watch. The characters drawn from mass media; a female bodybuilder, a teen neo-Nazi, a save-the-whales campaigner and cleverly illustrate this disturbing yet compelling story of greed, hunger and fame.

Bookings: www.melbournefringe.com.au

Until 4 October, 2009