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Review: Retrograde, Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company’s Australian premiere of Retrograde delivers a tightly wound, high-stakes drama that revisits a pivotal and often overlooked moment in Hollywood history, the early career crossroads of legendary actor Sidney Poitier. Written by Olivier Award-nominated playwright Ryan Calais Cameron and directed by Bert LaBonté, this 90-minute production transforms a single meeting into a pressure cooker of politics, race, ambition, and moral courage.
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What is Retrograde about?
Set in 1950s America during the height of McCarthyism and the “Red Scare”, Retrograde follows a young Sidney Poitier (Donné Ngabo) at the edge of a breakthrough moment in his career. He has been offered a major role in a network television production, a potential launchpad into Hollywood stardom. But what should be a celebratory contract signing quickly becomes an interrogation.
Instead of finalising his deal, Poitier is confronted by network lawyer Mr Parks (Alan Dale), who pressures him to denounce civil rights figures such as Paul Robeson and answer questions about his political associations. The subtext is clear: comply, or risk being blacklisted.
Alongside this tense exchange, screenwriter Bobby (Josh McConville), who advocated for Poitier’s casting, becomes another complicating force in the room, raising questions about whether allies are truly allies when power is at stake.
The play is inspired by real historical pressures that shaped Sidney Poitier’s rise in the entertainment industry. During the McCarthy era, performers were often scrutinised for political associations, and civil rights connections could carry professional consequences.
Poitier, who would go on to become one of the most influential actors in film history, was navigating a system where loyalty oaths and public denouncements were sometimes expected as the price of opportunity.
Retrograde captures this tension without turning it into a traditional biography. Instead, it compresses the emotional and political stakes into a single encounter, allowing the audience to experience the intensity of the moment rather than a broad historical overview.
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At the centre of the production is Donné Ngabo, who delivers a compelling and physically grounded portrayal of Sidney Poitier. Ngabo captures both the composure and internal tension of a young actor balancing ambition with moral conviction. His performance carries a striking resemblance in mannerisms and presence.
Opposite him, Alan Dale brings a sharp, calculating edge to Mr Parks, embodying the institutional pressure and controlled aggression of Hollywood gatekeeping. While there were moments where pacing and line delivery felt uneven, possibly shaped by opening night energy, the performance still effectively communicates the character’s authority and discomforting confidence.
Josh McConville as Bobby adds complexity to the room, portraying a figure caught between artistic advocacy and professional self-preservation.
Bert LaBonté’s direction keeps the production tight and focused, making effective use of the confined setting to maintain a steady sense of pressure throughout.
The entire drama unfolds within a mid-century modern New York office setting, with set design by Zoe Rouse. The design uses space cleverly, enhancing the sense of entrapment.
Set transitions make effective use of corridors, lifts, and off-stage movement, occasionally expanding the world beyond the office into the streets of Manhattan, where Poitier’s larger journey looms.
Ryan Calais Cameron’s script is sharp, confrontational, and often darkly funny. The humour appears at unexpected moments, cutting through tension and highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
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Retrograde is a thoughtful production that brings an important historical moment to the Melbourne stage. It highlights a turning point in Sidney Poitier’s early career that reflects broader questions around power, identity, and resistance.
Retrograde
16 May — 27 June 2026
Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne
Retrograde is recommended for ages 14+ / Years 9–12. The production contains coarse language, mature themes including racially sensitive commentary and depictions of racism, the use of herbal cigarettes and theatrical haze.
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