Clubland

A Review by Ajay Pamneja.

Clubland is the new play by Roy Williams, winner of the Alfred Fagon Award and the John Whiting Award for his 1997 play, Starstruck and also was the joint winner of the George Devine Award 2000 for Lift Off. It is directed by Indhu Rubasingham.

Clubland is modern play of urban life with all its complexities of trying to maintain a career, marriage/relationships, friendships and the desperate attempts to appear 'tough and hard' amongst your peers.

Clubland uses the street language of today's youth with great effect. This is a very thought provoking play with all the issues of race and gender politics. Can you sustain relationships/friendships with members of another racial background without any hidden agendas? Why do some children from immigrant communities get bullied and others accepted in the native community? Does it simply follow the 'survival of the fittest' theory? How do they grow up and what do these adults offer the community? Does this vicious cycle stop when we grow up or is it so deeply etched onto the souls that we carry the effects and propagate the venom into other circles of our lives? The writer has so cleverly captured the emotions which are generated by the daily conversations between friends and partners of different racial backgrounds in today's cosmopolitan environments.

Really, its NOT all work and no play!! The play is a true entertainer as it full of humour and has the perfect mix of entertainment and responsible writing. The script is faithfully translated under Indhu's direction, who has worked on diverse projects including the recent Ramayana tour in Birmingham and at the NT, London and The Waiting Room.

The cast is so perfect that the show deserves a long run in its current format, preferably in other parts of the country as well. The four principal characters are Ben, Kenny, Ade and Nathan. Nathan is happily married to Melanie and has just become a proud Dad. Ben is married to Denise and this was done for job security as he works for Denise's dad. Ade is in a relationship, but always on the pull. Kenny is the sensitive type looking for the 'right' one to come along. Ben is friends with Kenny because Kenny 'follows' Ben wherever he goes and does. Kenny is friends with Ben because Ben is 'tough'. Nathan was friends with Ben and Kenny, but he 'hates' Ben's way of life and the way he is a 'bad' influence on Kenny. Ade is the street role model for Kenny and Ben as he can 'pull' any woman in the club he wants.

Go and see for yourself the way the relationships develop, crumble and then develop again.

Clubland is currently playing at the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London (until 7th July 2001). See under our Theatre Event Listings.