20th October Nine Night

No not the length of time Liz Truss will remain as PM but rather the name of the play I went to see on my latest jolly out to the Playhouse theatre last night.

Nine Night is an award winning play by Natasha Gordon that focus on the gathering of a multi generational extended Jamaican family following the passing of the family matriach, Gloria, a gathering lasting for 'nine night'. It was certainly a play that attracted a large number of the West Indian Community with over half of the audience being from that ethnic background on what was the plays opening night.

Featuring a wide range of family members from the eccentric religious aunty, the dancing uncle, the sister who felt she had been left with the burdon of looking ater her mum, the sister who felt that her Mum had abandoned her back in Jamaica to find a better life in the UK and the mixed race couple dealing with financial issues and an unexpected pregnancy, it was a melting pot of emotions

The play raised all sots of issues that often come to the surface and boil over following a family crisis, set against a background of music, food, grief, laughter and tears as the various connected and yet disconnected family members gathered around Gloria's well loved dining table.

Being more familiar with Jamaican culture might have helped give a better understanding for some parts of the play, with the West Indian audience obviously getting some of the phrases, speech and behaviours that just went over my head judging by the laughs, nods and whispered exchanges. And it could have benefitted from an interval with the almost 2 hr running time feeling like 2 hrs at times.

I am not quite sure why it was acclaimed and award winning but at only £8.50 for the ticket it was a pleasant jolly into the bis smoke. Not the best or worst thing I had ever seen but One Night was enough.