Theatre Review: Jacky

The Play: Jacky

The Company: Melbourne Theatre Company

The Theatre: The Fairfax Studio, The Arts Centre

Stars: 4.5

Until 24 June, 

The Melbourne Theatre Company was supposed to show the production of Jacky in 2020, but the lockdowns prevented this from happening. It was supposed to show again in 2021 - and once again, lockdowns prevented this from happening. 

So the Jacky, a play about family, culture, capital and the things we find ourselves doing to get ahead. 

It's been worth the wait. This is fabulous. 

Jacky (Guy Simons) is a street-smart aboriginal man who is juggling cultural performances with his other gig as a sex worker. He's keeping his nose clean, working, and building bridges with a community group run by Lynda (Alison Whyte). The world appears to be in Jacky's hands. The promise of a job from Lynda means he could get himself on the property ladder and get some stability away from sex work. 

But with all good plays, his brother Keith (Ngali Shaw) comes to tip things on his ear. In true younger brother form Keith is a bit of a wastrel. Mission born and bred; he's trying - really trying. Jacky tries to get him decent paying work, but he's not really cut out of it. Keith also gives Jacky a good grilling as to why he hasn't gone home in over a year. 

The third strand to this play is Jacky's interactions within one of his clients, the hapless, thoughtless Glenn (Greg Stone). The less said about this the better..

Declan Furber Gillick's script is fantastic, navigating the realms of what it is to be indigenous in our society. Jacky fits in to a point, but he acknowledges the fact his family are far away and would never be able to relate to his life. Gillick, an Arrernte man, has written this with a mixed audience in mind, traversing such issues and white privilege, the absolute lack of any knowledge in some people and a number of First Nations Issues which, as a non-indigenous person, you gain some more knowledge.

Mark Wilson's direction is spot on too, keeping the action rolling, making us laugh, but also think.

In all, this is a triumph of a play. 

The only thing that got up my nose was the country music which played before the play commenced. In the play this was described as crying music. To me, Country and Western Music is there to make your ears bleed or to make you slit your wrists in double quick time. 

Interesting, sexy, sassy and thought-provoking. What more do you want in a play? This comes highly recommended. 

Today's song: