One the Bear

You could almost hear the fizz as the effervescent opening night crowd eagerly anticipated the start of One the Bear. Perhaps it was that the reputation of NIDA graduate and award winning performer Candy Bowers that had everyone so excited. Maybe the concept of Black Honey Company which she formed with her sister and long-time musical collaborator Kim Busty Beats Bowers had everyone enthused. Perhaps their social media presence and pozible campaign (https://pozible.com/project/one-the-bear-outreach-project) was the cause. Whatever the reasons, the crowd’s eager anticipation was not in vain.

When One the Bear started, it appeared on a superficial level to be a bit of jovial vivacious fun. The audience’s heads bopped to the hip hop beats and everyone hollered and whooped for the all dancing, all rapping kaleidoscopic vision before us. Beneath the spectacle we were treated to some much needed, biting social commentary. It was presented in such an infectious and hilarious manner. The cast and crew drew on cabaret, farce, satire, musical theatre, burlesque, spoken word, comedy, fairy-tale and the aforementioned hip-hop genres. In the parlance of its target audience, ‘One the Bear was dope.’

The beautifully written libretto of the show, which was mostly sung and rapped, with a few moments of spoken verse, was jam packed with important messages. It was an allegorical tale about race, the beauty myth, ‘selling out’ and cultural appropriation. It got you thinking about the insidiousness of the fame machine and the way any difference is discouraged. You watch the homogenisation of One’s looks and talent even though it was her difference that made her a great artist in the first place.

The show also discussed the inhumane treatment of bears; you’re reminded of the terrible practice of bear bile cultivation. One the Bear constantly had us questioning why in this enlightened day and age we still haven’t got it right with regards to our treatment of animals and our fellow human beings. Why are people so cruel when love is such a beautiful thing we’re all capable of expressing?

There was unbridled energy and commitment from the talented performers Candy Bowers as One and Nancy Dennis as Ursula. Their brilliant rapping covered a variety of vocal styles; at times they sounded like Salt n Pepa, Wiz Khalifa, Busta Rhymes, Beastie Boys, and M.I.A, alongside sounds of some golden era hip hop MCs. Their dance skills were on point at all times too.

Jason Wing’s set design was grungy, fun and evocative. Optikal Bloc’s video design added an entire layer of messaging and beauty to the set design, at times working as a coating of digital set and others as exciting video edits to extend on the storytelling.

Busty Beatz’ sound design and compositions were world class and proven to give heads the bops. The amazing fluoro and fluffy costumes by Sarah Seahorse brought so much life and entertainment to the show.

The catch phrases ‘We are Golden’ and ‘Growl with Me’ were such fabulously empowering cries of racial unity and sexual equality. It was magnificent to see these strong, proud feminists on stage. It was even more thrilling to see a full house at La Boite jump to their feet with standing ovation at the end of the show. It was so well deserved.

I was told this was a show for teenagers and if that’s the case call me a kidult because I adored every furry moment of One the Bear. It was paradigm shifting, world changing theatre wrapped up in a sparkling, delightful evening of entertainment.

Kiesten McCauley 

Photographer: Dylan Evans