Jammed on to the stage at the Bristol Old Vic theatre, a hotel room. Sliced neatly open at one side and presenting its contents, occupiers and activities like a giant TV. The actions are created from a real event. What the characters say and do seems realistic enough based on our knowledge of their lives and histories. We could imagine we are watching a reconstruction, a retelling of a significant incident. But it is more than facts that we are asked to absorb… it is personalities, ideas, beliefs.
This play, original written and performed in 2013, tells the story of four iconic, black, American men who meet in a hotel room one night in 1964. There to celebrate the victory of the young Mohammed Ali, then Cassius Clay, were nation of Islam leader Malcolm X, singer and record producer Sam Cooke, sportsman Jim Brown and the celebrated boxer himself; newly crowned heavyweight champion of the world. What happened stayed in that room but playwright Kemp Powers has used the scenario to portray the four men at the crossroads of the civil rights struggle in the US and tells us what he thinks they might have said. The actors create believable characters with some excellent performances. Conor Glean is Cassius Clay on the night he declared his conversion to Islam: first bragging about the fight and then piously praying. Glean’s performance is full of the swagger that we know and also some touching innocence from a man who had just conquered the boxing world at the age of just 22. Malcolm X is played by Christopher Colquhoun, all serious and devout; he speaks of ‘menace… foreboding… death’. So solemn that we know he must have troubles inside. Sam Cooke (Matt Henry) and Jim Brown (Miles Yekinni) don’t understand why the room is devoid of food and booze… and where are the girls? They are portrayed as ignorant and superficial at first but the play’s narrative leads us along a journey as these two characters reveal their thoughts and actions around the struggle for equality. Andre Squire and Oseloke Obi play the two minders, nicely contrasting solemnity in the former with the naivety of the latter.
It’s this theme of a fight for rights which is the main concept of the play. And its success in examining this idea lies not only in illuminating a piece of history but depicting the diverse ways to achieve goals. Mixed in with the sober discussions, we are shown the friendships and personalities of the protagonists. There is some genuine chemistry between the actors as they are joshing and joking around in the hotel room. As a piece of theatre the discourse runs a little dry at times but is rescued by some fine singing from Henry as Sam Cooke; showing what a powerful medium music is. A way in for the audience to ponder the profound ideas of this insightful play. ★★★☆☆ Adrian Mantle 26th June 2019