Customer Reviews

Black Plays: 3: Boy with Beer; Munda Negra; Scrape off the black; Talking in Tongues; A Jamaican Airman Foresees his (Methuen's New Theatrescripts) (Vol 3)

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As a university lecturer in British Cultural Studies in Poland, I came across Black Plays: 3 in London, and bought it for two main reasons: Firstly, Paul Boakye's BOY WITH BEER, the story of Karl, an upwardly mobile gay photographer who has trouble uncovering the finer feelings of Donovan, his fantasy 'African Prince.' And secondly, because of Tunde Ikoli's SCRAPE OFF THE BLACK, an East End mixed-race family drama that leaves no stones unturned. As a million miles away from the stereotypes of black life so often portrayed on film and TV, our students were particularly drawn to these two very powerful, passionate, and amusing plays. As well as being critiques on the roles we adopt, the stereotypes we pander to and the fear of love, they are both very brave. Perhaps brave is the wrong word, but honest, which is so much more useful. I feel BOY WITH BEER and SCRAPE OFF THE BLACK are plays that will always come back. When they do be ready. The other plays in the volume were also very well accepted by the students. Winsome Pinnock's TALKING IN TONGUES alone would have been well worth the money. Since this volume is currently out of print, perhaps someone will publish these three plays separately! Anyway, it's good to see the reality of life in Britain looked at from other perspectives. We enjoyed it ... full marks!