BLACKLISTED is an early contender in the rich program of Sydney Fringe 2023. The show has much of interest in its 60 minutes. The first half is a poignant even angry outburst against the ‘blacklisting’ and stereotyping of people from key countries seeking visas to travel in America, Britain and Australia. Almitra Mavalvala plays herself in this autobiographical show, and we are given many instances when applications for visa, for example to attend a wedding, were rejected. The deeper fear – that an individual name is on a secret list, even one shared between countries, – produced the most upset.
Almitra accompanies her narrative with her own songs. The lyrics and composition (also by the performer) rise to the occasion, and add variety and edge to the genre of migration or coming to Australia stories on stage. The story is distinct because of her origins in Pakistan.
The show is endearing in depicting life in Pakistan. Almitra’s biography is not as harrowing as refugee stories that have come to Australian stages in recent years, and in a full dramatic sens, it lacks a catharsis. However the second half does resolve the first as Almitra moves to a very warm and sincere portrayal of what it is like to have two homes, and how she feels having to return to Pakistan next year. She can do nuanced emotional depth, and by way of contrast and reprieve, a nice comedic dance style.
Almitra is an accomplished performer, and shows a good range of emotion and action. She has sound control and engagement with her audience. As she says in her show, her accent is unusual, perhaps a product of world travel, and high pitched. This, and the microphone used on opening night (something that will undoubtedly be corrected during the run), caused some loss of diction. Undoubtedly the performer will gain even more assurance as the season goes on.
The singing was up to task, and the songs bright, and very much part of the narrative. The voice was personalized by the confessional nature of the work. The audience appreciated the personal values and experiences evidenced.
The set (Rita Naidu) of large paper lit lanterns, carpets, cushions and other middle eastern decor was functional and visually pleasing, more so considering the strictures of sharing the evening (old La Mama Melbourne style) with two other show, and a cross-over time of one hour for bump out and in for both shows. Lighting (Jasmine Rizk) was first rate for a small show of this nature – the lights, along with music accompaniment by Sarangan Sriranganathan (sitar) and Chris Fields (tabla/percussion,) truly supported the action, alternating and underscoring spoken word and songs.
The event was well organised and featured a full creative team. This show felt like a classic fringe show, and suited the PACT Theatre space well.
BLACKLISTED, written and performed by Almitra Mavalvala, directed by Jessican Fallico and co-produced by Almitra Mavalvala and Jessica Pietersen Scott, playing as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival, is playing the PACT Theatre, 107 Railway Paradde, Erskineville until the 9th September 2023.