You Can't Understand by India Wilson. The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE 4 to 21 January 2023. 3***. William Russell.
Holding the audience's attention with a monologue places demands on any actor and India Wilson rises to the challenge with this account by a girl called - among other things - Keika who decides to try out Elon Musk's memory travel portal The Box View. This allows her to revisit her past and find things she has forgotten. The result is an insightful and entertaining roller coaster of an evening - admittedly short but actually Wilson the author has judged her material perfectly. Keika's mother is white but she is not and she stands out from her schoolmates, discovers she gets different treatment, battles against dragon teachers and generally fights the world. It is a look at life well worth joining in. You meet her various manifestations including Freika, genius and quirky babe.
India Wilson: Keika.
Production photograph: Francesca Solomon.