How The KKK Saved The Day, is an unmissable gem currently playing at the Blue Room Theatre as a part of Summer Nights. This show will have you laughing, angry, and confronted with an expertly performed, written, and composed 80 minutes of theatre.
We follow the towns people of KluKluxtopia who now need to grapple with a non white man coming to take over as pastor and bringing his family with him. The show takes us through all the systemic injustices people of colour face and how systems of oppression are deeply woven into government, the justice system, and even how democracy is abused to solidify deeply held racist beliefs.
Amri Mrisho’s writing is outstanding in weaving these grand societal injustices through a show that is genuinely one of the funniest things I’ve seen on a Boorloo stage. The cast are something to behold, they all bring out the fantastical, brutal, and hilarity in their characters. Shout out has to go to Chewe Nkole for his portrayal of Milton, his naiveté, confusion, and his ongoing beating downs by all those in power was brilliantly executed by Chewe, and I couldn’t stop laughing every time he was on stage.
Suzanne Kosowitz’s compositional expertise comes through in the variety and catchiness on top of Amri’s very clever lyrics. I genuinely need this soundtrack on Spotify now. Holland Brooks’ sound and lighting design craftily tied all of the aspects of the show together and brought out the sometimes broadway-esque presentations in songs.
A truly stand out moment for me, after constantly being beaten down by the oppressive racist regime in the town, the wife of the pastor, Assata (beautifully played by Nduta Gathoga), begins to sing completely alone, no music, about how slavery and colonisation crafted the systems people of colour are forced to live under, we hear marching off stage from the rest of the cast who come on stage and form a wall, pointing at us, reminding us that these systems were formed by our ancestors and to call us all to action to bring about any change. Towards the end of the show, even after dismantling an oppressive aspect of the system we are reminded that there will always be more to do, “Not good, but better”.
How The KKK Saved The Day, is the kind of show I will bring up for the rest of my life, there is always something to love and learn from in this show. You absolutely do not want to miss it and I cannot wait to see what will come from some of these artists in the future.
How The KKK Saved The Day is on now at The Blue Room Theatre through to Feb 3.