Witty and wise drama at Coventry theatre

YOU’re in 1970s Philadephia and living in style with the middle-class, black Harrison family: mum Myra (Jocelyn Lee Esien) prone to Malapropism and pretension, dad Avery (Karl Collins) preacher-teacher with a healthy interest in sex, and Junior, aka Felix (Isaac Ssebandeke), protected preppy son with girlfriend L’il Bits (Rochelle Rose) - unintentionally ‘in the club’.

Enough? Add Beverley (Rebecca Scroggs), freshly orphaned and up from the rural South, left in the unwilling care of nightclub owner Caleb Johnson (Clifford Samuel).

Three sets of couples make up the story with the focus on Beverley and Caleb. Their scenes are a battleground and their developing relationship is left hanging in a beautiful piece of theatre when he announces that the lights shouldn’t go up just there – he’s not finished. He’s prepared to tell us his feelings for Beverley – but not her.

It’s not for the maiden aunt, but this piece is beautifully written, works really well and is a thrill to watch. For me, the performance that lights up the stage is Beverley. Her transformation from country hick to girl-about –town, teasing Caleb with her relationship with Roger, white and wealthy, underlines the thrust of the piece. ‘Bourgeois’ is used as a term of abuse. Felix turns his back on his family’s wealth but the girls, L’il Bits and Beverley know its value firsthand and choose an easier life.

This is a witty, wise and warm piece of theatre at its best.

Jane Howard