A play about systemic racism
“You know what your trouble is man?… Your white skin. You think it gives you the right to lord it over a black man, but you know what it make you? White. That is all, man. No better, no worse than me.” Gershwyn Eustache Jr as Gilbert.
In a society that is still dealing with the consequences of systemic racism that and some of the community are only now realizing of it’s existence. Small Island presented by the National Theatre, highlights the institutional racism that minorities have faced and continue to face, especially in the years following WWII.
Small Island follows the story of Hortense (Leah Harvey), a well educated woman from Jamaica who marries Gilbert (Gershwyn Eustache Jr.) and they both move to England. The characters are intertwined with Queenie (Aisling Loftus), a lovely kind hearted soul who recently married to Bernard (Andrew Rothney), who has been drafted to go fight in the war for his country. Moving to the country to take care of Bernard’s elderly father Queenie, like many women of her generation, where left to fend for themselves, often having to find a way to make money to support the family while the husband is away at war. Queenie has opened her house to guests and this is how Queenie, Hortense and Gilbert’s lives are introduced.
The production is adapted from the novel by Andrea Levy and explores the reality of racism that a large number of individuals from Jamaica faced when trying to integrate and create a new life for themselves during and after WWII in England.
The National Theatre Live at Home program has been hugely successful with their free streaming of world renowned productions. Small Island originally ran in 2019, is a story that must be told and couldn’t be more fitting with everything that is currently going on around the country and globe with the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Theatre is about story telling and the importance about having your story heard.
Directed by Rufus Norris, this production relies heavily on rear projections and a very simplistic staging. But the limited stage set up is made up for the strong performances by the actors and the outstanding dialogue.
Leah Harvey has Hortense holds a stiff upper lip. Throughout the play she continually faces prejudice and discrimination at the hands of a number of individuals as she tries to start a new life for herself, the performance is reserved, calculated and controlled. She delivers the characterization with dignity and respect, as you can see she tries to hold composure at even the most difficult and challenging times.
Aisling Loftus as Queenie is genuine and endearing. There is an innocence about this character but also sense of compassion and love for live. You’ll be surprised by this performance as the characterization will stay with you days afterwards.
Small Island is a fascinating and well produced production. The ideas presented by the story based in 1948 England are still very much relevant today, if anything it highlights the institutional racism that is still in place in many aspects of society. If anything this stage play will make you question what is right and wrong and how you can go about to make some positive change.
Small Island is currently streaming on the National Theatre channel on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=pac-Furijsw