By Omar Musa & Mariel Roberts
Q The Locals at the B Theatre, Queanbeyan 8 August
Reviewed by Len Power
Described as a “spoken word oratorio”, The Offering is an
often head-spinning journey on themes such as environmental destruction,
climate change, Southeast Asian colonial history, belonging and borderlessness.
Combining storytelling, poetry, hip hop, and live music with sound recordings made in Bornean forests and coral reefs, it’s a sensual and demanding work that requires close attention. A multitude of ideas and reflections jostle with autobiography, a sense of cultural and historical uneasiness and a cry of concern for the state of our world.
Award-winning Australian author, poet and rapper, Omar Musa, and internationally renowned American cellist and composer, Mariel Roberts have combined their strengths in words and music to present an uncompromising, dark, sensual and yet strangely optimistic view of our world.
Omar Musa
Mariel Roberts
Mariel Roberts shows that she is clearly a cellist of
international standard. The soundscape she has developed to accompany Omar’s
words creates an extraordinary atmosphere that matches and adds another
dimension of its own. Watching her playing, the sounds and music that she can
produce from her instrument are astounding.
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| Mariel Roberts and Omar Musa |
The Offering is a unique, thoughtful and colourful view of the world through words and music. Cleverly presented in modern forms that appeal to the audience of today, it’s a journey to remember.
Photos by Nana Franck
Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.
