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Language Laid Bare productions presents

Nina and Shaz

Written and Directed by Laura McCluskey

Brockley Jack Theatre

15 April to 3 May 2009

Couzens

A review by Peter Carrington for EXTRA! EXTRA!

The lives of two singer/songwriters are presented, with all the parallels between them, separated by several decades and the Atlantic Ocean. On one side there is the history of the legendary singer songwriter Nina Simone, following her growing up in 1930’s North Carolina, to her singing career from the 1950’s to 1970’s and her association with the Civil Rights Movement.  On the other side of space and time is Shazne, growing up in modern London and her success as a model and singer.  Both women struggle with growing up, abusive men, racial discrimination and success.

This story is conveyed with song, projection and a wealth of talent.  Kyla Frye does well to portray the growth of Shazne and has a good voice, holding the modern sections together.  The impressive supporting cast enables her to shine by conveying the ambience of many locales and times in modern London and the United States.  Linda Mathis, Charlene James, Rebecca Crankshaw, Kevin Golding and Nathan Clough all deserve credit for the vast number of roles they slip, chameleon-like into.  But the gem of the play is Wreh-asha Walton as Nina Simone, producing Simone’s distinctive vocal range and passion in song, as well as generating a commanding presence.  The cast also ably handle the swift scene and costume changes, equalling the rapid pace of the play.
 
The songs are all from Simone’s back catalogue, from uplifting soul numbers such as ‘Young, Gifted and Black’ to famous cover of ‘I put a Spell on You’ and the haunting blues song ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’.  These are sung with audio backing, but this does not distract from the Walton’s powerful voice.  The set is a blend of modern and the past with no divide.  The right of the stage has an upright piano, the left a fainting couch.  Other locales are aided by the projection of photographs or other graphics on the back wall.  The lighting design was clearly done with a keen eye, often framing characters in light, illustrating darkness and moving seamlessly between scenes and styles very professionally. 

As a cross examination of the lives of two similar women Nina and Shaz succeeds, allowing focus on the similarities of their situations as well as the differences.  The use of projection in the production, including President Kennedy’s speech on civil rights helps ground the play in history and changes of location but there is less attention paid to grounding the contemporary sections in a particular time or place.  But perhaps this is intentional, so as not to allow the action to be associated with any specific incident.  However this makes the play seem somewhat unbalanced as more attention is paid to portraying history than how it can be related to modern day and the lessons that can be learned.  As a result there are messages from the play that sometimes feel forced, distracting from what is otherwise a fascinating insight into Nina Simone’s life and music, with the parallels of contemporary London, touching upon the continuing racial bias Black people face in modern society.

(Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:45pm, Sundays at 5pm)

Tickets: £12 (Concessions £9)

http://www.brockleyjack.co.uk/

Tickets: www.ticketweb.co.uk

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