Written and performed
by Omar Musa
Directed by Anthea Williams
The Courtyard Theatre,
Canberra Theatre Centre to 2 February
Reviewed by Len Power
30 January 2019
Award-winning author, poet and rapper, Omar bin Musa, hails from
Queanbeyan and is rapidly making a name for himself internationally with his
poetry, novels and music. ‘Since Ali
Died’ recently won a Sydney Theatre Award for best cabaret production.
‘Since Ali Died’ is essentially a one man show with
additional fine vocals by singer, Chanel Cole.
Performed on a bare stage with occasional lighting changes, Omar Musa
presents a very personal mixture of his poems, songs and thoughts.
Musa movingly credits his parents with the strength to
endure and overcome the difficulties of growing up in Queanbeyan as a
brown-skinned Muslim boy. Discovering charismatic
American boxer, Muhammad Ali, gave him a hero to look up to.
Encouraged to question everything happening around him meant
that life probably wasn’t easy, but it gave him a vast store of experiences to
inform his subsequent writing. His show
reflects these life experiences as well as his artistic influences and is a
strong and often confronting showcase for his poetry, words and music.
Particularly effective were his poems concerning his
religion and Malaysian heritage. A lot
of the detail of his growing up in Queanbeyan was disturbing but presented with
wry humour. It was fascinating to hear how
he viewed and coped with experiences at this time in his life, leading to the
development of a unique individuality.
He commands the stage right from the start of his show,
giving a fine performance from start to finish.
There’s a certain amount of larrikin there under the surface with a
wicked smile and a young boy cheekiness which is very engaging. He also shows his clarity of thought about
the world around him, uses the rough language of the tough environment he grew
up in and makes it clear that he has opinions and every right to express them.
There’s no sense of bitterness in his performance. This is a young man who has struggled to find
his place in the world and, through literature and music, shows us with
imagination, humour and determination where he is going.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast in his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.
