Filled with snappy dialogue, the play’s arrival in the West End is a welcome one.
Tightly written, amusing and thought provoking, Ryan Calais Cameron’s Retrograde has landed in the West End with a bang. It leaves audiences with plenty of introspectiveness in regards to questions surrounding integrity and morality set a difficult time in America’s history.
The play follows a time in young Sidney Poitier’s career, when he is about to sign a major Hollywood contract at his lawyer’s office – but there is a catch in which the era of McCarthyism becomes increasingly apparent in the terms of the detail of him being able to sign the contract. The question at the centre of it all is would Poitier be willing to sign a statement to prove his loyalty to the ideals of American values to sacrifice his values as a human wanting to push forward the values of the civil rights movement.
Brilliantly written by Ryan Calais Cameron, Retrograde is a wonderful play that explores its themes in a clear and challenging way but still with flashes of humour that keeps the audience engaged and wondering what way it is going to take next. In every conversation that take place in this well judged three-hander production, there is a real liveliness and spark that keeps the audience inthralled and entertained in equal measures.
But as well as the bigger themes that lie at the heart of the play, it is clear that Ryan Calais Cameron has done his research into capturing the character of Sidney Poitier as someone who is principled and upstanding but equally wanting to break free of the restrictions that society has put upon him on the basis of his skin colour.
This is brilliantly realised through Ivanno Jeremiah’s nuanced performance as Sidney himself which blossoms with much depth as the show and tension develops and his conflict between wanting his career to flourish, while battling with the idea of having to betray his friends in the process. You feel his passion, his increasing anger and conflict that he feels through every moment that passes.
But the chemistry between Jeremiah and Stanley Townsend’s Parks and Oliver Johnstone as Bobby is electrifying, with director Amit Sharma beautifully bringing out the best in all of the performances and the increasing tension that keeps the audience enthralled as the characters all challenge each other and their beliefs to strong effect.
Townsend as Parks is intriguing to watch as the character uses a variety of techniques to manipulate the other characters to do his bidding to save his own reputation. But it is also chilling in the clinical way in which he focuses on ‘American Values’ (sound familiar?) and ‘American way of life’ – brings to mind our present day troubles that ensures the relevancy of this play. Meanwhile, Johnstone as Bobby, perfectly captures the conflict of wanting to stand fiercely behind his friend Sidney but increasingly aware of the danger to his own career by doing so makes his inner conflict extremely raw that you are never truly sure where his character is going to end up.
Amit Sharma directs with great sharpness and confrontation, allowing the twists and turns in the conversation between the characters unfold with intensity. The intimacy and the tension of the situation unfolds perfectly on Frankie Bradshaw’s detailed set.
Overall, Retrograde is one of the most powerful plays to be in the West End at the moment. It features three incredible performances that bring it to life that will stay with you a long time after the curtain comes down on the performance.
By Emma Clarendon
Retrograde continues to play at the Apollo Theatre until the 15th June.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️