Friends make sure the show goes on

By Dionne Christian

NZ Herald·

23 Feb, 2015 04:00 PM3 mins to read

Robbie Tripe had wanted to start his own cabaret.

When actor-singer Robbie Tripe lost his long-running battle with depression last November, grieving family and friends wanted to ensure the death of the 41-year-old would not be in vain.

Knowing he had wanted to stage his own cabaret, Let's Get Lost, those who would have been involved - Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Paul Barrett and producer Sharu Delilkan - decided the show must go on.

Black Dog Relief: A Cabaret for Robbie Tripe will be a farewell to the popular performer known for roles in stage shows as well as Shortland Street, Power Rangers, The Strip, The Truth about Demons and the Radio Hauraki docu-drama The 3 Mile Limit.

Featuring Barrett on piano accompanied by the likes of Ward-Lealand, Rima Te Wiata, Colleen Davis, Andrew Laing, Keith Adams and Alistair Browning, it also aims to raise awareness of depression in the performing arts community. All proceeds will go to the Mental Health Foundation.

It will stay true to Tripe's plan for the show which was meant to include "a masterful pianist with a quick wit and sharp tongue backed by a singer who gradually transforms before our eyes into an elegant, sultry but disillusioned woman".

The music includes songs from the 1920s-60s by performers such as Fred Astaire, Cole Porter, Bobby Darin, Chet Baker, Dinah Washington, Marlene Dietrich, Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. Each performer will sing two or three numbers.

Tripe's younger brother Will also intends to sing. Will says he and Robbie only shared the stage once, in their hometown, Wanganui, at the Prince Edward Auditorium, where they performed in Allo Allo.

"I would have loved to have sung with him again but the opportunity never arose. I thought we would do so one day in the future; after all, I expected to be spending the next 40 or so years with him around celebrating Christmases and family occasions but it was not to be."

Will says Robbie had a self-deprecating sense of humour and was always the performer in the family, his talent shining through at a young age when he began piano and dance lessons.

"But he never felt like he was good enough or that he fitted in. My hope with the tribute concert is that it encourages others to talk about these types of feelings but I want it to be a celebration of Robbie's life."

Ward-Lealand says those involved want Black Dog Relief to be an unforgettable evening of music and song. As president of Equity NZ she also hopes it will raise awareness of depression. She says it's an issue which affects the performing arts community but it is not often discussed.

Barrett says those experiencing depression tend to put on a brave face in public.

"There's still a stigma attached to depression, although the work that has been done in recent years has been a great help in reducing that. We need to keep revisiting this issue and talking about it and ensuring we don't allow people to become isolated and feeling as if they can't speak up."

Ward-Lealand says the union is moving to ensure it can better support performing artists living with depression.