Out of Africa – REVIEW
Image: Tarisai Vushe. Image: supplied
There’s a gem of a show on at the Seymour Centre’s Sound Lounge that you simply must not miss.
It is the collaboratively devised variety show called Out of Africa, in which three performers, after waiting for the Covid restrictions to lift, finally share their stories of migrating to Australia.
In the first half, talented young dancer Emilia Nwakpa took us on a journey of different African dance styles, mesmerising her audience with her grace, skill, strength and extraordinary physical vitality. It was a dazzling performance indeed, and will be even more polished when the slight glitches in the timing of the music are fixed and she develops more confidence on the stage.
Emilia, just so you know, is a health worker and doctor in her other life.
If that was not enough to justify the price of the ticket, the second half was largely filled with the powerful voice of Tarisai Vushe, whose repertoire ranged over traditional African songs, popular American hits and some Australian works, among other genres.
In full command of the stage, she told stories of encountering racism in Australia and was particularly shocked when she went to an Australian bar-b-q party for the first time and found there was no dancing, just talking and drinking.
Tarisai (or Terry) has featured in “The Lion King,” “Mandiba” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Once you see her perform, you will never forget her face and her powerful voice.
Tall, good-looking model and rapper Samuel Barrie also shared stories, poems and songs about his life in Australia, sometimes in conversation with Tarisai.
The modest Jonathan Chaga provided essential keyboard backup.
Towards the end of the show, after two hours of mostly high energy entertainment, perhaps the chit-chat was unnecessarily prolonged and increasingly desultory, and for those of us seated beneath a freezing air conditioner, increasingly uncomfortable.
These quibbles aside, I cannot recommend this show highly enough, and you might miss it as it is tucked away in the downstairs Sound Lounge at the Seymour Centre in Chippendale.
