The set was simple, yet effective, made to look like a typical ‘Queenslander’ house with an old-school roller door garage so it felt like you were looking down into someone’s backyard. The set moved in a circular rotation between scenes to give each section of the audience a different view as the story progressed. The cast gave an emotionally-charged, raw and believable performance attributing to the intense, dark atmosphere through the entirety of night. 

 

La Boite Theatre’s artistic director, Todd Macdonald has slightly tweaked the performance for a modern audience but still follows the storyline inspired by the 1989 rape and murder of fourteen-year-old Leigh Rennea Mears. A group of teenagers throw a party fueled with alcohol and toxic masculinity, by morning a girl is found raped and beaten to death down on the beach below. An iconic Australian story that explores the aftermath of such a horrific tragedy, and highlights issues sadly still relevant today such as; victim blaming, misogyny, domestic violence, sexism and class division. Rather than focusing on the rape itself the story follows its key characters as they cope with their role in what happened whether a witness, perpetrator, bystander, friend or family member.  

 

The eight QUT final year drama students who were making their professional debuts were all outstanding, but the two stand out performances for me came from Toby (Tom Cossettini) and his sister Rachel (Jessica Potts). Their talents were highlighted during the scene where Toby and his family have a revelation about Toby’s involvement in the crime. Rachel confronts her brother about being involved and their mother and father are quick to disregard her concern. Rather than get to the bottom of what has happened Rachel and Toby’s parents immediately defend their son and talk about ways to keep him from doing any jail time. 

 

Jessica Potts and Tom Cossettini had excellent chemistry on stage acting as brother and sister, and they delivered a scene that was so pivotal to the storyline as it felt like the apex of the show. Throughout the performance there were scenes that depicted the different characters’ role in the crimes and how they were handling the aftermath, but a scene with Toby, Rachel and their parents gave the audience the opportunity to ask themselves “What would I do if someone I love did something really horrible?” The mother and father want to protect their son, but Rachel is determined to stand her ground and demands that Toby tell the truth, even if it gets him and his best mates in trouble. 

 

If you’ve ever heard the saying “Boys will be boys!” or “Dicks before chicks!” then you have probably been exposed to the ‘bloke culture’ that Blackrock effectively depicts. In a way, it is upsetting that a play based on boys trying to cover up a rape and murder to protect each other can still be so relevant today, but it is. 

 

Todd Macdonald’s recent adaption of  Blackrock tastefully highlights some uncomfortable issues. not for the faint-hearted but delivers some hard truths about society that probably need to be discussed more! 

 

I was at the edge my seat the entire performance, definitely worth seeing. 

Head to http://laboite.com.au/blackrock/ to grab tickets while it’s still showing! 

 

By Brianna Denmeade