Review: Black Box - Grey Gum Productions & Tinderbox Productions

Written by Jake Goodall

Everyone has heard of the Black Box, the in flight data and voice recorder that can detail failures in airplane mechanics in crashes, however did you know that it was invented right here in Australia! In this compelling biographical musical, the audience bares witness to the trials and tribulations of David Warren's life as the inventor of the black box. 

This brand new musical follows the true story of David Warren, the first inventor of the Black Box flight recorder. Driven by the death of his father in an unexplained plane crash when he was eight, Black Box follows David as he fights for an invention that could record the final moments of a flight before it crashes – the black box. His obsession around this invention places his career, marriage and mind at risk. It’s a show about memory, and how we hold onto, and let go of, those we love.

Written by Paul Hodge, this innovative musical showcases the importance of Australian manufacturing and the value of Aussie led institutions. On occasion throughout the show it felt as though the performers were dragging us through the story as the writing got bogged down in some intricacies of Warren's life. However, the music elements of the production were interesting, the use of a swing style composition but placed within the the modern EDM sound was a fantastic mashup of genres. Additionally the motif used of 'Show & Tell' and 'Officially/Unofficially' though words and musically added extra depth to the production. Overall the writing of the piece was of a professional standard and was entertaining. With a little bit of editing it could take the production form good to great. 

An important aspect of the production was the use of headphones, upon entrance to the theatre the audience is instructed that the entire performance will be conducted through headphones found at your seat. The headphones uses Binaural stereo to create a 3D soundscape throughout the entire production, this is a smart move by Hodge as it further supports the symbolism of recording and playback which is evident throughout the performance. It would have been nice to see more use of the Binaural system utilised in the production as it could have functioned extactly the same without the use of headphones, however it did add an extra layer unseen in musical productions before. 

Direction by the formidable David Berthold was simplistic however effective. Each performer was strong in their role and the blocking against vocal tracks (with the people not visually there) was impressive. Music Direction by Simon Holt was impeccable, the recording of a 15 piece band was a smart route to take ensuring that the 'live' sound was still evident in the auditorium. Set Design by Isabel Hudson left something to be desired, the entire stage was covered in wood with a sound wave design engraved within. This element was an ingenious move by Hudson further supporting the idea of recording. The rest of the set was designed as a recording studio with two sound booths either side of the stage and a rectangle video screen upstage, the sound booths were used minimally and could have been omitted from the design. Finally the use of two chairs and tables for usable set provided a minimalist aspect of the production. There was a large opportunity for the set design of this innovative production however it was not utilised. Lighting design by Ben Hughes was beautiful, a particular mention to the use of lighting to illustrate the vocal only characters on the stage was helpful with visualization of the production. Additionally the use of both modern and historic designs helped to showcase the history of the story. Sound design by Daniel Herten was impressive, the design had to ensure that the audience listening through headphones was top notch rather than sound within an auditorium. Herten created a fantastic soundscape that rivals most commercial productions. 

David Warren is played by the angelic Michael Cormick, Cormick was the standout in this production. Their vocals were incredibly unique and provided a perfect timbre to the production. Additionally their portrayal of David at different ages (infant through to his death) was incredible, they way Cormick changed their acting style for each age was something to be enviable of! Playing Opposite Cormick is Helen Dallimore as Ruth Warren. Dallimore did a commendable job showcasing Ruth, the ups and downs of their life as well as the saddening descent into post natal depression. On occasion Dallimore's vocals felt out of tune or off beat however it must be commended as some of the backing tracks were incredibly difficult to pitch off and keep time. 

Additional recorded voices throughout the production were provded by Bernard Curry, Bryan Probets, Hugh Parker, Liz Buchan and Elliot Baker. These vocal artists gave stunning performances through their vocals only providing us with the emotion and intent of the characters without actually seeing them on stage. Finally an additional song recorded by the Australian Singer Dami Im was a fantastic, Im's voice shot through like an arrow giving us an extra slice of heaven.

Overall there is room for improvement for Black Box the Musical, however this showcase at QPAC is a fantastic first production and it is wonderful to see new writing coming out of Australia! For anyone looking for a great night out at the theatre or for those looking for something different in their theatrical viewing, this is perfect for you!

Black Box plays until the 19th of May 2024, tickets are selling quick can be booked at qpac.com.au

Photos by Darren Thomas