REVIEW: LITTLE BABY JESUS
By Shaun Ajamu Hutchinson
Saturday, June 11, 2011.
We’ve
become accustomed to media portrayals of Britain’s African and
Caribbean youth as out of control killers, muggers and criminals – or Attack The Block
style typecasts. This unfortunate and distorted view is a stark
contrast to the teenagers introduced to us in Arinze Kene's impressive Little Baby Jesus. Part of the London via Lagos Season, and promoted as a triptych of monologues it's actually much more.
Fiston
Barek’s Kehinde; Akemnji Ndifornyen’s Rugrat and Seroca Davies’ Joanne
recite their interlocking misadventures on the cusp between carefree
adolescence and the bitter realities of maturity. They each have their
own dilemmas – ranging from interfering grandmas, to mentally ill
parents to peer pressure – and more. And peeling away the layers of
swagger and bravado which wraps up the snatches of slang heard on
buses, street corners and school corridors humanises these youngsters -
and is the strength of Kene’s dialogue and his entertaining play.
Peppered with the cadence and intonation of their own [admittedly Londoncentric]
language these kids’ stories soon evolve into darker explorations of
loyalty, grievance, responsibility and adulthood. There’s sparkling
comedy here though - and it’s hilarious - as Kene deftly captures the
vernacular and colloquialisms of youth. The one-time Eastenders
actor and award-winning scriptwriters’ talent is to shift gears
smoothly from the carefree nonchalance of youth to the more sombre
anxieties and concerns of adulthood.
Smart
acting with fizzing and quick-fire dialogue, which perfectly echoes the
zest of youth, this is budget theatre – a trio of actors and minimal
fuss - but with top quality ingredients. On the Oval Theatre's bare,
floor level set [designed by Chris Gylee] with just a shaded blue back
wall for perspective, these actors really have no hiding place – and
shine even more brightly for it. Director Ché Walker’s discreet but
adept direction gets the best out of his actors, none of whose
performances are overblown.
There
are flaws; on reflection some anecdotes these lively teenagers tell do
not make much sense and their tales have a few holes. But these are
minor blemishes really - mitigated for by strong performances and
quality writing.
Little Baby Jesus
Written By Arinze Kene
Directed by Ché Walker
Until 15 June 2011
London via Lagos Season
Oval House Theatre
52-54, Kennington Oval
London SE11 5SW
Box office 020 7582 7680
Book online www.ovalhouse.com (no fee)
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