REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Sucker Punch
by Roy Williams
Queens Theatre
Hornchurch
30th March - 15th April 2023
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3ZOQjH4
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Sucker Punch
by Roy Williams
Queens Theatre
Hornchurch
30th March - 15th April 2023
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3ZOQjH4
There is a growing trend in theatre for productions to offer audiences an immersive experience when they watch a show. As soon as we enter the Queens Theatre auditorium, we are immediately plunged into a gloomy boxing gym which is the setting created by designer Sandra Falase for this very timely and important revival of Roy Williams’ hit play Sucker Punch.
Even before the play begins, a young boxer is in the boxing ring, which dominates the stage. He is being put through his paces by his coach. We can’t yet hear what is being said, but as the lights go down, we suddenly can as the play begins and the actors smoothly switch into the opening dialogue. Gym owner Charlie, a wiry and experienced middle-aged trainer, is coaxing his current protege, Tommy, to work harder with the usual string of insults designed to make him angry. “You’re going soft, lad!"
Even before the play begins, a young boxer is in the boxing ring, which dominates the stage. He is being put through his paces by his coach. We can’t yet hear what is being said, but as the lights go down, we suddenly can as the play begins and the actors smoothly switch into the opening dialogue. Gym owner Charlie, a wiry and experienced middle-aged trainer, is coaxing his current protege, Tommy, to work harder with the usual string of insults designed to make him angry. “You’re going soft, lad!"
Next to enter are Leon, and his friend Troy. These two young black men have been caught breaking and entering the gym at some time previously, and, in return for not reporting them to the police, Charlie ‘allows' them to hang out in the gym, but assigns them the cleaning duties, including the unimaginably grim toilets which the boys draw straws for.
It is immediately clear that there is racial tension between Tommy (a very provocative performance by John Rogers) and the two black lads, as well as very strong competitiveness. We are in the harsh world of the less-enlightened 1980s, when Thatcherism, strikes, rioting and social unrest was at its height. It is very difficult to hear the level of racial abuse that prevailed back then as the men hurl insults at each other. Of course, this is exactly how author Williams wants us to feel.
Before long, Leon steps into the ring and, from the office at the back of the gym to which he often retreats, Charlie sees that he has a new talent right under his nose and agrees to train him, much to the frustration of Troy, who wants a chance too. Leon is soon being entered for fights, and after Tommy’s departure for new, bigger things, it is Leon who carries the hopes of everyone on his shoulders.
It is immediately clear that there is racial tension between Tommy (a very provocative performance by John Rogers) and the two black lads, as well as very strong competitiveness. We are in the harsh world of the less-enlightened 1980s, when Thatcherism, strikes, rioting and social unrest was at its height. It is very difficult to hear the level of racial abuse that prevailed back then as the men hurl insults at each other. Of course, this is exactly how author Williams wants us to feel.
Before long, Leon steps into the ring and, from the office at the back of the gym to which he often retreats, Charlie sees that he has a new talent right under his nose and agrees to train him, much to the frustration of Troy, who wants a chance too. Leon is soon being entered for fights, and after Tommy’s departure for new, bigger things, it is Leon who carries the hopes of everyone on his shoulders.
Sucker Punch is a huge undertaking for the actors. They have to convince as athletes, training and fighting convincingly, whilst completely in character. This they all do to magnetic effect. As Leon, young actor Shem Hamilton has the mightiest task, with long monologues to deliver whilst physically enacting the early fights he is entered for. His performance, along with the intense writing, leaves you slack-jawed with admiration, as you watch the sweat pouring from him. He really does deliver a tour-de-force of acting.
Meanwhile, another highly detailed and fine performance comes from Liam Smith as Charlie, the trainer. Lean, watchful and unsmiling, he is every inch the ‘old pro’ who has seen so many young hopefuls come and go, but is still dreaming himself of the big win. This gym is his domain, and he owns every single, grimy inch of it.
Of course, there has to be some humour and levity to break the tension in this intense world of toxic masculinity, and this is supplied by Wayne Rollins, as Squid, the feckless, womanising father of Leon. Full of wise-cracking jokes, he only appears when he needs cash to spend on yet another new girlfriend. It’s so sad to see him conning his long-suffering son yet again, making him believe that he loves him in order to get what he needs. The audience is nevertheless totally won over by this charmer, and Rollins brings the house down when he demonstrates Squid’s deftness with a skipping rope.
Meanwhile, another highly detailed and fine performance comes from Liam Smith as Charlie, the trainer. Lean, watchful and unsmiling, he is every inch the ‘old pro’ who has seen so many young hopefuls come and go, but is still dreaming himself of the big win. This gym is his domain, and he owns every single, grimy inch of it.
Of course, there has to be some humour and levity to break the tension in this intense world of toxic masculinity, and this is supplied by Wayne Rollins, as Squid, the feckless, womanising father of Leon. Full of wise-cracking jokes, he only appears when he needs cash to spend on yet another new girlfriend. It’s so sad to see him conning his long-suffering son yet again, making him believe that he loves him in order to get what he needs. The audience is nevertheless totally won over by this charmer, and Rollins brings the house down when he demonstrates Squid’s deftness with a skipping rope.
As the story progresses, Troy (another very powerful performance from Christian Alifoe) and Leon fall out, after they are separated in a night of rioting. Troy feels betrayed by Leon and leaves. However, without issuing spoilers, fate brings them face to face for the fight of their lives at the climax of the play, and their friendship comes full circle in the bitter-sweet ending.
A long list of creatives have come together to create this production. Nathan Powell has directed his cast with forensic detail and draws committed acting from everyone. The setting, lighting, sound and costumes are all superb too, the actors have been trained and well looked after.
It is interesting to note that the production has a fight director, boxing coach, wellness coach and a physiotherapist too. The actors have been trained and well looked after given the physically gruelling nature of the play. The show is embarking on a tour after the Hornchurch run, so clearly the welfare of the cast must be paramount.
Sucker Punch is an intense, at times gruelling, play to watch. It is a gripping, thrilling journey into a world that many of us know little about. On the opening night, the packed house was held spellbound, even joining in at times, and the entire cast received an instant, well deserved standing ovation.
This production is a collaboration between Theatre Nation Partnerships and the National Theatre. It plays at the Queens, Hornchurch until April 15th. Do not miss this great night at the theatre.
Review: Andrew Walters
A long list of creatives have come together to create this production. Nathan Powell has directed his cast with forensic detail and draws committed acting from everyone. The setting, lighting, sound and costumes are all superb too, the actors have been trained and well looked after.
It is interesting to note that the production has a fight director, boxing coach, wellness coach and a physiotherapist too. The actors have been trained and well looked after given the physically gruelling nature of the play. The show is embarking on a tour after the Hornchurch run, so clearly the welfare of the cast must be paramount.
Sucker Punch is an intense, at times gruelling, play to watch. It is a gripping, thrilling journey into a world that many of us know little about. On the opening night, the packed house was held spellbound, even joining in at times, and the entire cast received an instant, well deserved standing ovation.
This production is a collaboration between Theatre Nation Partnerships and the National Theatre. It plays at the Queens, Hornchurch until April 15th. Do not miss this great night at the theatre.
Review: Andrew Walters
