The Epic Adventure of Nhamo the Manyika Warrior and his Sexy Wife Chipo

Off to the theatre last night - the press night of a new play by Denton Chikura at the Tricycle Theatre. I was really looking forward to it, as I have loved Denton's work as an actor and theatre maker (most notably in Two Gentlemen of Verona which played last year at The Globe) and worked with him during the research and development of Jack Mapanje's new play. Also this was to be the directing debut of Lucian Msamati, Artistic Director of Tiata Fahodzi and one of my favourite actors.

So it was with some trepidation that I approached the theatre ... I so wanted it to be good, as I would see both Denton and Lucian there and I am a bad liar!

Luckily, this was a fabulous evening. I haven't laughed so much in ages, and in spite of being seated right at the top looking down at the stage, I had a really brilliant time. While the ensemble of four actors worked beautifully and they were all splendid, Nyasha Hatendi as Commander Specimen still managed to steal the show with a perfectly timed comic performance which was truly masterful. The rest of the ensemble, Don Gillet, Ery Nzaramba and Tanya Fear also had their moments of brilliance and the lovely simple set by Ben Stones was beautifully lit by Paul Keogan.

This was a really successful intercultural show - with a cast drawn from Africa (Rwanda and Zimbabwe) and Britain, a Zimbabwean/British writer, a Zambian/British director and an Irish Designer, it was truly global and made full use of the opportunity to draw from differing cultures. Western cultural references jostled with Zimbabwean goatherd jokes, and on the press night the diverse audience at the Tricycle joined in enthusiastically when given the opportunity to 'ooh' and 'ahh' at the outrageous performances.  This was an upfront, over-the-top celebration of humanity: I laughed my socks off. Don't whatever you do miss it!

Let There Be Love

Back from the theatre again ... this time Kwame Kwei Armah's 'Let There Be Love' at the Tricycle. A surprise to see such a domestic drama from this writer .. but also a delight. I've seen some reviews complaining of sentimentality, but that didn't bother me at all. I'd rather see something sentimental that moves me than an intellectual piece of political drama that leaves me cold. And move me it did - tears dripping off my chin by the end! It was a very traditional piece with a realistic set with the dreaded sofa at the centre- but this is the exception that proves the rule (the rule being that any play with a sofa in it is likely to be pedestrian and unimaginative. Unfair prejudice, possibly - but think about it). The subject matter of the play was of course (given the writer) contemporary, and the evening was made by the superlative performance of Lydia Leonard as Polish home help Maria - it's hard to imagine a better performance. Joseph Marcel takes the lead, and is, as always, marvellous. I first saw him playing Othello at the Lyric Hammersmith and have never seen him turn in a bad performance (and that includes the ultimate tosh that is The Fresh Prince of Bel Air). Sharon Duncan-Brewster completes the cast, as the spikey and difficult daughter - a character who in less competent hands could be unsympathetic. A moving and engaging show. Let there be love indeed.