Co-Produced by Eclipse Theatre
Company, Bristol Old Vic and Hull Truck Theatre
Princess & The Hustler
Newcastle Live Theatre
Until Saturday 13 April 2019
Written by Chinonyerem Odimba
Directed by Dawn Walton
Directed by Dawn Walton
Eclipse
Theatre follow up their successful production of Black Men Walking with another drama that highlights life in
Britain for a community that continue to be under-represented in UK theatre. Princess
& The Hustler, written by the current writer in residence of Live
Theatre/Northumberia University Chinonyerem Odimba, appears at Live Theatre
this week. Whilst the play features warm and charming characters, the story is
also a shocking reflection of attitudes towards minorities.
In
1963, 10 year old Phyllis ‘Princess’ James (Kudzai Sitima) is dreaming of winning
the Weston-Super-Mare beauty contest. In her Bristol home she imagines
accepting the winning crown and being recognised as the prettiest girl in all
of Weston and Bristol. However, life is more complicated than that.
She
lives with her mother Mavis (Donna Berlin) and older brother Wendell Junior (Fode
Simbo). Mavis is a very traditional lady
who expects respect. Grace is spoken before the meals and she is willing to hit
her son, with a belt that she keeps for that purpose, if he falls out of line. It
is also abundantly clear that Mavis loves her family and, in addition to holding
down multiple jobs, she would do anything to support her offspring. Her son Junior
is budding photographer and, whilst he teases his younger sister, this is a
close family unit.
It
is Christmas and a small tree sits in the corner of the room with no presents
under it and a chicken dinner is cooking. Just before the food is served there
is a knock at the door. Not only has Wendell senior (Seun Shote) – The Hustler
in the title of the play - appeared without prior warning, he arrives with Lorna
(Emily Burnett), a half-sister for Princess who has been raised in Liverpool.
The
story, for me, has two clear themes. Significantly we have a strong matriarchal
figure as the central character. Donna Berlin is fabulous as the mother. It isn’t
just the great writing that stands out here, it is the way in which Donna
delivers her lines coupled with the non-verbal signals that she her family. That
killer look, and the expectation of compliance, is as significant as anything
verbal. This may be a kitchen sink drama but it is shows how one adult keeps
her household together. It is refreshing to see a play in which the men don’t
take over and save the day.
The
other, perhaps more obvious, theme is race relations. Wendell and Mavis have
moved to England on the promise of a career befitting their previously held
status. What was actually offered was a junior office role. But this is 1963,
the Race Relations Act was still 2 years away, and attitudes to the arrival of
a new immigrant work force are examined in this production.
We
have friendly neighbour Margot (Jade Yourell) who views herself as part of the
family but still uses language to describe the new arrival Lorna that prompted
an audible gasp from the Live Theatre crowd. Indeed, whilst the official
description of the show warns about a mild sexual reference (it must have been
mild as I didn’t spot anything of note), nothing is flagged up about the racist
terms. I guess it could be argued that this is the equivalent of asking for a
bag of nuts to carry a warning of “contains nuts”. But, just like watching a
film on Talking Pictures TV,
attitudes are 1963 not 2019. I say that, but, as a white man, I have to accept
that I may not appreciate what 2019 attitudes are towards race as I don’t face
them on a day to day basis. I admit my recent experience of racism today is
limited to the headlines about the struggles of footballers to be recognised
for their talent. As you may have spotted, since seeing the show last night I have
been thinking a lot about the context. I have come to the conclusion that
society still has a long way to go.
This
show is about family. You have the dreams of Princess, Junior and Lorna as they
try to find their way in Bristol. Kudzai, Fode and Emily capture the youthful sense
of optimism so well.
The
pace of the show is good. In the first act we don’t have characters describing their
past history in dull monologues. Rather, the audience is allowed to work out
how the James family found themselves in this situation. Chinonyerem Odimba’s
script also features the industrial relations that Wendell Senior faces outside
of the confines of the living room setting.
This
is really good play. It is simple as that. A story that demands to be told
using a clever script and a talented cast under the careful direction of Dawn
Walton. It is well worth a trip to Live Theatre to see it.
Review:
Stephen Oliver
Tickets:
Tue 9 – Sat 13 Apr, 7.30pm
Matinee Sat 13 Apr, 2pm
£12-£22, concs from £10
Approx. 2hr 35min incl. interval
Suitable for ages 12+, contains mild
sexual references
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