Writer: Philip Stokes
Director: Philip Stokes
In spite of Philip Stokes, the writer and director of This is Not America, and Jack Stokes, the actor in the play, being unrelated, the show is still very much a family affair as Cassius, Rocco and Salvatore, three identical brothers, are interrogated about a murder that one of them may have committed.
The three all represent different aspects of a toxic version of the American dream where a built in sense of entitlement is combined with a sense of rage and aggression towards anything that threatens to limit it, and a complete disregard for the rights of others. Cassius is an egotistic MAGA loving actor who imagined he might become the victim of a murder rather than the accused, Rocco comes across as a seasoned gangland criminal with a violent temperament, and Salvatore appears to be a nervous geeky character until he starts talking about the number of women he has been with and his attitudes towards them.
There is nothing remotely likeable about any of them and, initially, Jack Stokes’ presentation of them is quite jarring as strong accents and mannerisms add to the relentless visceral nature of the script. However, as the script develops and the three try to avoid incriminating themselves, to justify their worldviews and look for someone else to blame, the play gets more nuanced and the view of America it presents becomes more disturbing. Jack Stokes then makes each of the characters distinctive in his delivery so that there is never a question of who is talking even as they voice similar opinions.
The appearance of a fourth suspect introduces questions as to what the crime actually is, and the real identities of any of the brothers.
There is clearly at least one very bleak metaphor being played out as the script moves between a very complex message and a too simple concluding statement that doesn’t apply similar depth to exploring the causes of toxic America as it does to the symptoms.
Nonetheless, it is still a compelling performance and thought provoking script.
Runs until 31 August 2026 (not 19th) | Image: Craig Lomas
