Actress in musical premiere

 Email this story

Print

1 Comment

An Olivier award-winning musical, Caroline, or Change, will premiere at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre this week.

Loosely based on Tony Kushner’s memories of growing up in Louisiana, the score combines spirituals, blues, Motown, classical, folk and klezmer music.

J-Wire spoke with Amy Hack who is playing the part of Rose.

“It’s an interesting conflict of dynamics between two oppressed people” she said.

“I play Rose, and it’s pretty obvious that I am privileged.”

The story, set in the 1963 in a Jewish household in Louisiana, focuses on two different minorities. One is privileged and the other is experiencing segregation in the USA’s deep South.

“The central theme is between Caroline the maid (played by Elenoa Rokobaro) and the little boy of the house, Noah. Caroline’s husband has left, her son is in Vietnam. There is a lot of mourning going on as most people are experiencing their own grief/loss” says Hack.

Amy was approached to play the role of Rose, stepmother to Noah.

“Her character is from New York, quite brash and loud” she said.

“Playing a Jewish person in a play has been an opportunity for me. I didn’t have to embody what a Jew feels.  I understand the history as I identified with what people were going through in the South which relates back to my own parents and their history.

“When I was cast, they didn’t initially realise I was Jewish. That means I can bring a lot of my own experiences and knowledge to this role.”

“While it is a musical with singing all the way through, it is still contemporary. The music is very moving, and I feel this musical will make people think.

“While I am the only Jewish cast member, the cast are all Australians. Cast members have a rich diverse cultural background, and our Australian (ness) helps to represent our and the characters’ stories.

“I am very excited to be involved” she said.