Blackbird

Nothing in relationships ever seems black and white. But when it’s a sexual relationship between a 12-year-old girl and 40-year-old man, you would think it is. Blackbird challenges this theory.

Roundhouse Theatre

23rd Productions & La Boite

Saturday, April 18, 2010.

Nothing in relationships ever seems black and white. But when it’s a sexual relationship between a 12-year-old girl and 40-year-old man, you would think it is. Blackbird challenges this theory.

The phrases Paedophilia, statutory-rape and abuse come to mind, but when Ray and Una meet 15 years after their forbidden affair, the audience is privy to the information and emotional insight the media wouldn’t report about this kind of case.

Ray (Daniel Murphy), now with the new identity of Peter, is shocked when Una (Kathryn Fray) arrives at his workplace. She saw his photo in a work-related magazine and was disturbed by his smile – how can he be smiling while she has lived a life of hell? He is now with a woman his own age, living a middle-class comfortable lifestyle, while she struggles with her past in the same town she grew up in. At first it seems like she’s seeking answers, but as the show progresses and the emotion changes, the audience begin to wonder where their reunion will lead.

The professional “help” Una received after Ray was charged with paedophilia and put in jail for 6 years, possibly only confused her more. The man she loved and adored was a child-molester? Ray believes, as he now explains to Una, that he isn’t a paedophile. He says he was just a man in a “bad-place” who fell stupidly in love with one individual minor, and had never been aroused by another child before or after. It’s not clear if Una agrees, but what is clear was that she had real feelings for him also.

So many questions are posed, and this disturbing yet interesting story soon proves its right to exist by convincing its audience that this is a grey area. It’s a topic many would not choose to spend much time thinking about because it’s not pleasant. But, it is worth your time to see this story explore the subject in an open and honest style.

Murphy seemed to be over-acting initially, but he soon settled.  Ray obviously is edgy and nervous in the first scene when Una arrives, but Murphy’s manner was at first a little unbelievable. I didn’t find either performances particularly powerful, however their commitment to the story and delivery of the key emotions was successful. If more sympathy was evoked for the characters, it would have been a more intense experience. I’m not sure if this is exactly what director Mark Conaghan was aiming for. There seemed to be a focus on opening the audiences’ minds rather than building a deep connection with the characters. My eyes and mind are officially opened.

A dirty office attached to Ray’s workplace warehouse was a good setting for the story, and well designed by Kade Sproule. Lighting by Jason Glenwright was excellent and particularly effective in the opening scene and during Una’s recollections.

It’s a touchy subject, but it doesn’t offend. It’s another great independent from the La Boite Indie series.