Fifty Shades of Black, written by Karla Hart and performed by Hart and Della Rae Morrison, is structured as a series of short skits about different Nyoongar people and the lives they lead; ranging from the stolen generation to contemporary times. It is not a slick show; there are numerous technical difficulties and the acting in the first two scenes feels a little forced. Nevertheless, and actually probably because of this, it is a truly wonderful and warming experience. It felt human, like these were two ordinary people just telling stories; two people just trying to tell the truth. It definitely shared the philosophy of punk and country of ‘three chords and the truth’. Indeed, in one scene Morrison is holding a guitar but says she only knows three chords, the other then replies that three chords is all you need.
The performers were particularly strong in the comic scenes. The exuberant outward physicality of Hart and the more internal and reserved foil of Morrison combined perfectly and had the audience roaring with delight – I have never seen a show so enjoyed. These scenes included two Aboriginal teenage girls at a dance, a Kangaroo court charging Hart with being a ‘coconut’, cooking damper on a glitzy cooking show and a telemarketing advert for the ‘Mobulator’ – a coat hanger with lots of teabags tied to it.
Some of the comedy scenes were noticeably darker than others and concerned the horrible experience of living in a mission and the problems of skin colour for a contemporary Aboriginal. These scenes were very powerful and deftly evoked complex experiences that are not usually given voice.
Two of the tragic scenes stood out above the rest. They involved the recounting of what it was like to be a child of the stolen generation and a conversation between two sisters who had just been re-united. They evoked that deep empathy and acknowledgement that is the sign of great drama.
It is great to see stories like these being told, especially when they are done so with such strength, vitality and vigour.
Alex Wolman
