Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner | Darlinghurst Theatre Company & Green Door Theatre
British playwright Jasmine Lee-Jones’ debut production, seven methods of killing kylie jenner the australian version, makes its way to Meanjin. Combining theatre and social media, this thought-provoking play explores the commodification of Black bodies, cultural appropriation, colourism, sisterhood, queerness and the reality of social media’s cruel firing line.
The magnetic duo that is Cleo (Moreblessing Maturure) and Kara (Iolanthe), serve up the tea and they serve it hot, unfiltered and we are here for it, fr. The kettle is whistling and pressure is pent up ready to explode at the caucacity of wypipo. Social media becomes the breeding ground for defiance and soon sprawls into a chain of events.
If the title is anything to go by, the opening scene is just as delicious. The lights are dark and the two are seen whisking kylie jenner into Cleo’s bedroom under the floorboards. By this time, the doors to the theatre are locked and no one can leave. My body filled with excitement as the award-winning show my entire network has been talking about is finally playing here. I take a seat in the back row and grab one of the many postcards situated around the theatre, reading the very important messages before scanning the room to suss out who’s in the crowd, mostly to see how many wypipo are present so I can check in periodically how much guilt consumes them. A diverse audience is in tonight, conversations and laughter echo throughout the Roundhouse Theatre at La Boite. They give a decent amount of woo’s, gasps, giggles and undivided attention.
After reading the news headlines of the first billionaire woman, Cleo unpacks frustrations about kylie jenner on #UKBlackTwitter. In retaliation to the once entertaining confessions of @INCOGNEGRO’s desire to have jenner killed, keyboard warriors on Twitter assemble to destroy her. Cleo drowns in the politics of social media activism when old tweets are resurfaced and weaponised, questioning her morals and intersectionality. Kara is prompted to confront her friend and navigate the nuances that set them apart. Colourism, fetishisation, gatekeeping, sexual assault and queerness are analysed in a raging debate brought together through the controversy exploding online.
A bangin’ soundtrack curated by Busty Beatz plays Hip Hop, UK Grime mixed in with African drums and harnesses the power to pull the audience into the social media space. Supported by a brilliant set from Wendy Yu, a floating box with Twitter projected on each side allows us to visually and aurally go from dialogue to the digital realm. This created a very modern and relatable feel and I would love to see more shows like this. Under the direction of Shari Sebbens, the way the actors express their inner rhythm was so captivating. I read along to witty and vibrant UK accents interpreting tweets layered with gifs, emojis, memes and internet slang - the pair are so on point they hit each word on beat like a follower hits the love button. You like it, but then it’s not quite enough and you have to give it ‘another one, another one, another one.’
The show concluded with a well-deserved standing ovation, nods, clicks and whistles. On exit, we entered Vyb Nyt, the courtyard and foyer made space for a sense of African hospitality, mouth-watering traditional food, colourful art for sale at the markets, music and dance dominate the space. The power of culture was felt warmly and my bland taste buds caught the sting of the homemade hot sauce which kept me coming back for more, just like I’ll be coming back to watch the show again before the season ends.
As a light brown Queer Maori, I resonated with parts of Kara’s story. I remember the struggles my dark-skinned cousins face and empathise with Cleo. I sat acknowledging my privilege, looking on as tensions rise and steam blows truth bombs like no other, appreciating that when discussions are grounded in respect and driven by clarity they bring us closer. I felt this in their relationship, further confirming the invaluable connection between women of colour. The play was so cleverly written that it plants seeds to start and grow conversations around the issues that need addressing and dismantling. No wonder it is a multi-award winning sell-out smash hit.
