Gideon D. Wilonja’s I Met An Angel Named Jacques is a striking, poetic play that blurs the line between theatre and confession. Presented at Footscray Community Arts it offers a raw and dreamlike study of fame, validation and vulnerability – a reminder of how powerful and unpredictable Melbourne’s independent theatre can be.
Set in a world that feels both real and imagined, the story centres on L’or (played by Wilonja), a celebrated artist trapped in his own myth. His public image is flawless, but the weight of perfection leaves him restless and isolated.
Enter Jacques (played by Ras-Samuel), a sharp-witted critic whose job is to dissect rather than adore. Their meeting, first a formal interview, becomes a psychological and emotional showdown that unravels into obsession.
The play explores L’or’s identity as a queer Black man navigating success as an artist and actor, alongside the expectations of others – in particular the disapproval of his traditional, religious mother.
Wilonja’s writing moves between realism, poetry and surreal intensity, never settling into one mode for long. The dialogue pulses with rhythm and tension, while silences cut deeper than words. The work resists neat conclusions, embracing ambiguity as its most honest language.
At its core, Jacques is about the search for validation – how humans can crave recognition yet fear exposure. It’s also a study of love’s destructive potential and of relationships that sustain and destroy in equal measure.
Performances by Wilonja and Ras-Samuel are magnetic, charged with energy and restraint. The production’s minimalist design and shadowed lighting serve the material perfectly, letting emotion take centre stage.
