Review

West Yorkshire Playhouse

Having won the New Observer award back in 1957, Moon On A Rainbow Shawl has since been adapted for the radio and Talawa Theatre Company's production of Errol John's play is currently touring the UK.

Director Michael Buffong and designer Soutra Gilmour immediately transport us to a poverty-stricken Caribbean apartment block with their indoor/outdoor set, emphasising the claustrophobic atmosphere a boiling pot of Port of Spain residents’ experience.

A baby cries and local prostitute, Mavis (Bethan James), escorts her latest customer to her digs across a shared yard, where the lives of other residents intertwine.

A man sings and plays guitar on the porch of one of the closed houses while Ephraim (Okezie Morro) returns to his apartment – a cross section of a modest dwelling that characters drift in and out of, often uninvited, allowing us insight into the lack of privacy John’s smorgasbord of characters have grown accustomed to.

Characters are more EastEnders than Neighbours, constantly bickering, despite a genuine affection for one another. Young Esther (Tahirah Sharif), a scholarship student who attempts to help her mother keep the family afloat doing odd jobs, is painfully innocent, despite her troubled and depraved neighbours; as a result, she’s perhaps the most sympathetic character – it’s hard not to feel pity watching as her childhood and dreams are virtually stolen from her.

Mum Sophia Adams (Martina Laird), is worn bare and harassed, supporting a man (Jude Akuwudike) who becomes almost legendary as John cleverly makes us hang on for an introduction.

Aside from the Adams, there's landlord Mr Mack (Burt Caesar) who lusts after Ephraim’s girl, Rosa (Alisha Bailey), in the cafe where he employs her. As a character, Sailor Joe is the weakest, under-developed and unconvincingly played by newcomer Sam Lloyd but the rest are well-written characters you invest in, tinged with tragic lifestyles but comical nonetheless; following the tempestuous blooming relationship between Mavis and Prince (Ray Emmet) acts as light-relief against the unfairness of life’s lot so many of John’s creations face. The characters' Trinidad creole; trolley bus sound effects; taxi lights; off-stage voices and dimmed lighting for scene changes open up John’s yard, reminding us there’s a world beyond neighbourly disputes.

In John's world, women are the strong consistent ones and character relationships like puzzles to solve. A slow-burning first half tantalises with a dramatically-timed interval before an emotionally wrought second-half, memorably including a moving showdown between Sophia and Ephraim.

Unexpected pregnancy; poverty tempting theft and a desperate search for opportunity combine to create a production rivalling the drama of any Tennessee Williams play.

Although Moon On A Rainbow Shawl is a lengthy production, captivating performances and intriguing characters accelerate the clock hands.

Moon On A Rainbow Shawl showed at The West Yorkshire Playhouse from February 11-15 before continuing its UK tour. Visit talawa.com/moon_on_a_rainbow_shawl_2014.

Leo Owen