Writer: Sian Carter
Director: Michael Buffong
Running with Lions is a warm, entertaining debut by Sian Carter. Despite the play’s themes of loss, grief and mental health, this portrait of a British-Caribbean family is often charmingly funny.
After a brief flashback to when brother and sister Joshua and Gloria were young, happily sharing pick ‘n mix, we move to the present. Gloria is being discharged from a psychiatric hospital where she has been in treatment for a long spell, while her parents, Maxwell and Shirley, have been taking care of her teenage daughter, Imani. The indefatigable Shirley is getting the house ready for a welcome home party. It seems as if whatever Gloria has been through, the worst is now over.
But the homecoming preparations appal Gloria. She suspects her mother’s main concern is with putting up a good front at the local church where her husband is the much-loved preacher. What shocks Gloria most is the discovery that all photos of her brother have gone. Joshua has evidently died, but Shirley seems to be denying her grief by refusing to talk of him. It’s as if he never existed. Then we hear that Shirley refused ever to visit Gloria – ‘Your ma don’t like hospitals,’ Maxwell explains, ignoring the fact that Shirley had been a nurse.
Meanwhile Imani, a self-possessed 16 year old (played by equally self-possessed Ruby Barker) is leaving school and discovers she’s been offered a transformative scholarship. How will her family react when she tells them she’s off to study in the United States? And, more importantly, what has been the effect on her of her mother’s mental health issues?
The deep tensions within the family are clearly set out. In many ways play’s themes are familiar ones. What makes this drama work is the uniformly excellent acting of the small cast. Wil Johnson as Maxwell is a compelling presence – both a humane and passionate believer and a party-lover. He throws on ‘Let the Good Times Roll’, insisting Shirley dance with him: age hasn’t robbed them of their moves. We see him give a stirring sermon in which he passionately declares the need for cast-iron faith that God ordains everything that happens. But Johnson gives a tender portrayal of Maxwell’s secret doubts. If God wills everything, what can be meant by Joshua’s death?
Suzette Llewellyn as Shirley almost steals the show with her strongly comic presence. In one hilarious scene – a rare moment when we see a character interact with people outside the family circle – we see her squeezing into a pew and nodding complacently to fellow church-goers before responding rapturously to the service. But there is a darkness to her determined silence, a rigid denial that impacts her relationshop with Maxwell.
Velile Tshabalala gives a strong performance as Gloria, a principled if troubled woman, who refuses to accept the family’s silence over Joshua’s death. And, without giving too much of the plot away, we meet the beloved Joshua (a charismatic Nickcolia King-N’da) in the course of the second half of the play.
Running with Lions is at times overlong, but is well directed by Talawa Theatre Company’s Michael Buffong. Soutra Gilmour’s set is beautiful – a curved structure that suggests the encircling arms of the family, set against ever-present stars of hope.
Runs until 12 March 2022
