The Book of Grace by Susan-Lori Parks, The Arcola, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 to 08 June 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Alex Brenner.

The Book of Grace by Susan-Lori Parks, The Arcola, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 to 08 June 2024.

4✩✩✩✩ Review: William Russell.

“Superbly played state of the nation play.”

This family drama and state of the nation play by the Pullitzer prize winning Parks erupts onto the stage like some volcano – that all is not well in this border town in Southern Texas where border guard Vet lives with his second wife Grace us clear from the start. The arrival of Vet’s son Buddy by his first wife, an army veteran seeking work and maybe to re-establish relations with his father, or perhaps seeking revenge for past treatment by him, sets it all in motion. To be honest structurally it is a bit of a mess but superb performances from the cast, tautly controlled direction by Femi Elufowoju Jr, and Parks’ thrilling set piece scenes do keep one glued to the action. It can be hard at times to follow, but by the end chances are you will be limp, exhausted and have had a thrilling theatrical experience. In other words sated. It has done what it set out to do. Vet, splendidly played by Peter De Jersey, seems at first like a good sort of chap, a bit rough but dedicated to his job. He is due to receive a medal for his handling of some border crossing crisis involving detested Mexicans and soon is clearly nowhere as nice as he seems. Just what that grave he is digging in the back garden is for is far from clear and leaves one wondering who it is for, also he does not get on well with Buddy - something in their past looms without being fully explained. Daniel Francis-Swaby as Buddy seems easy going and anxious to get that job alongside his father - but just why his suitcase contains what we eventually discover suggests he had other reasons for coming home. Meanwhile Grace, played by Ellena Vincent, who works as a waitress in a fast food joint, makes the best of married life, is writing a book about all the good things that happen to her – a kind of scrap book really which she hides away- and tries to effect that reconciliation. Vincent conveys Grace’s essential goodness perfectly. But secret books do not go down well with Vet nor does the fact that Buddy and Grace get on so well – he buys her a red dress to wear for that award ceremony which proves a terrible mistake. What it has to say about the fractured state of America today probably packed even more power when it was staged there – here audiences are on lookers rather than participants – but that volcanic eruption at the end is truly spectacular.

Cast

Elena Vincent – Grace.

Peter De Jersey – Vet.

Daniel Francis-Swaby – Buddy.

Creatives

Director – Femi Elufowoju Jr.

Set & Costume Designers – William Fricker, Rae Smith.

Lighting Designer – David Howe.

Composer & Sound Designer – Simon McCorry.

Fight & Intimacy Director – Kami Durosinmi.