Jacky REVIEW 29 May 2023 **1/2

THEATRE

Written by Declan Furber Gillick, by Melbourne Theatre Company

At Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne until 24 June 2023

Reviewer: Kate Herbert

Stars:***1/2

This review is published only on this blog. I’ll present a radio review on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 10 June 2023. KH

MTCJacky_Greg Stone, Guy Simon, photoPiaJohnson

“It’s complicated” is one way to describe the lead character’s life and relationships in Jacky, a new play written by Declan Furber Gillick and directed by Mark Wilson.

 

Jacky (Guy Simon) straddles the two worlds of his indigenous culture and his adopted home in the city with its "whitefella" culture.

 

He is a young, indigenous man whose aboriginal family lives on a mission (AKA “the Mish”) up north, but he now lives in the city where he dexterously negotiates the complexities of urban life, working as sex worker, in a pub, in an office internship or doing cultural performances of his mob’s dances. He’s hoping to purchase an apartment, if he can get full-time contract work.

 

Enter Jacky’s kid brother, Keith (Ngali Shaw), straight from the Mish where he is a rowdy, irresponsible kid who drinks a bit, jokes a lot and has (or is that “had”?) a baker’s apprenticeship that Jacky believes Keith will transfer to a city apprenticeship – if Keith ever leaves Jacky’s couch, the X-Box and Uber Eats to bother to pursue work.

 

Jacky’s life takes a turn when Glenn (Greg Stone), his new regular client who has a particular penchant for black men, behaves in an unacceptable way. In another twist, Jacky’s anticipated contract role for a community services organisation run by Linda (Alison Whyte) appears to be on shaky ground and Jacky makes a decision he will regret and that will jeopardise his relationship with his indigenous community.

 

Gillick’s script, developed over several years in the NextStage new works writing program at MTC, is smart, funny, well-observed and challenging to any preconceptions. Simon’s portrayal of Jacky is credible, sensitive and complex as the character navigates the volcanic events that he faces – or does he trigger them?

 

Shaw is a vivacious and charming rascal as Keith, Stone is both sympathetic and dislikeable as the confused Glenn, while Whyte plays Linda with a nervy edginess and bossiness that is absolutely suited to a woman desperate to get funding for her pet employment projects.

 

Jacky is an eye-opener in many ways that cannot be explained here without spoilers. Suffice to say that Jacky’s choices at the end of the play are the result of a complex web of circumstances, wrong turns and drastic missteps. I now understand a lot more about indigenous attitudes and beliefs about culture, relationships, community, work and social expectations.

 

By Kate Herbert

 

Cast

Guy Simon -Jacky

Ngali Shaw -Keith

Greg Stone - Glenn

Alison Whyte - Linda

 

Creative Team

Director Mark Wilson
Set Designer Christina Smith
Costume Designer Emily Barrie
Lighting Designer Matt Scott
Composer & Sound Designer James Henry
Intimacy Coordinator Amy Cater
Voice & Text Coach Matt Furlani
Assistant Director Joel Bray
Dramaturgs Jennifer Medway and Mark Wilson