RED TIDE (Southwark Elders Company/Southwark Playhouse)****

 

By Tommy 

Link: https://soundcloud.com/southwarkplayhouse/red-tide-by-justina-kehinde 

Available until: Unknown

Southwark Playhouse’s Plays For Today series, which I believe is written and performed by members of the Southwark Elders Company, has encompassed a wide variety of subjects. Although there has been a strong focus on family relationships, the stories told have been very different.

In the latest in the series, Red Tide, a lady named Verity travels to Kenya. Verity left her family home at the age of just sixteen when she married. Her parents and her sister Catherine (I am unsure of the correct spelling: there are many from which to choose) remained, but Verity’s contact with them has been sporadic.

She now returns at the request of Freda (another name with various possible spellings: I am more than happy to make any changes if requested), who is involved in the family’s legal affairs. She has a concern and wishes to speak to both sisters on the matter. Verity is extremely reluctant to be in the same location as Catherine and feels this is likely to be the one matter on which they’re in agreement. Freda, however, declares the meeting must and shall take place.

It is perhaps appropriate that I am listening to this on International Women’s Day (though the review will be posted on the day following) as Justina Kehinde has written a play about three intelligent and decisive women. They have their own beliefs and opinions on what should be done. It seems impossible for all three to be happy, but an agreement must somehow be reached. The three women have very distinctive personalities and it is fascinating to listen to them.

A play about three women with differing opinions could have turned into a comedy, but director Toby Clarke does not allow this to happen. The play is very serious. The characters believe utterly in what they are saying and far from being a comedy, it is a very emotional piece. Freda’s interest in the matter might be purely professional, but Verity and Catherine are both affected personally by the situation.

The roles are played by Meena Agrawal, Teresa Malski and Sasha Winslow, though there is nothing to indicate who plays each role. Verity appears confident and charming, polite but honest, but there is more vulnerability in her than first appears and this is beautifully-expressed. Catherine is more abrupt and abrasive, but she too should not be judged on first impressions. Freda is brisk and professional; pleasant but very much focused on the task in hand. Three fascinating characters who are all the more interesting because they do attempt to treat one another with respect rather than screeching at one another in the unseemly manner of characters in certain television dramas.

I would also like to mention the very enjoyable music. It is not clear whether this is some of the additional music composed by Roly Botha or the, for want of a better word, ‘non-additional’ music, but it is lovely and presumably Kenyan in style.

Red Tides is a very well-written and interesting play which I happily recommend, along with the rest of the series.