A feast for the eyes, ears, heart and soul
A visionary, time-travelling, exploratory tale of collective grief, the quest for justice, and its impact upon the individual and communities affected, writes Linda Emmanuel.
In response to yet another death of a young Black man at the hands of the police, the late Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther) wrote this play in 2005 to honour fellow Howard University student, Prince Jones, after his untimely death in September 2000.
Azure (the superb Selina Jones) is a young woman who suffers from body dysmorphia and bulimia, and mourns the death of her partner, Deep (princely Jayden Elijah). He was killed by a police officer. Whilst she holds Deep’s notebook to her heart, she laments, “I can’t see me as you see me.” Deep makes his presence felt after she reads his words describing her body, “…as to the phases of the moon, waxing and waning like an hourglass”. The notebook is the key to him appearing to Azure throughout the two hours and fifty minutes of the play. The language is beautifully musical, with the narrative presented in flashbacks.
After the failure of the justice system to do the right thing, friends of the couple, Tone (energetic Elijah Cook) and Roshad (solid Justice Ritchie), along with Azure, plan and then take part in a rhythmic “No Justice No Peace” protest.
The ensemble, in futuristic Star Trek-inspired costumes, uses beatbox, hip-hop poetry, popping, locking, and a cappella in place of instruments. This is combined with the heartbeat timing of Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter, providing the soundscape to the production. Each member of the troupe has a great singing voice and is skilled in their delivery. They playfully take on various roles, such as the audience on the Jerry Springer show, pigeons in the park, and members of a gospel choir. Storytellers, Street Knowledge of Good (Aminita Francis) and Street Knowledge of Evil (Imani Yashua), wearing divine glam rock attire, lead the chorus with excellent vocals.
This production is a feast for the eyes, ears, heart, and soul. The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse lends itself perfectly to magical realism as it glows in the candlelight. The lighting, designed by Azusa Ono, casts a dreamy radiance on both audience and players alike. Director Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu, together with his cast, has woven a time-shifting world, leading us on an extraordinary journey through grief and mourning with moments of joy. Both the past and the future merge as the damaging impact of injustice is creatively marked and embodied by all.
We gain an insight into the heart of Chadwick Boseman through his writing as he examines the impact of hate upon individuals and communities. He fearlessly fuses elements of the past in the style of Shakespeare’s language, which he loved, and the modernity and rhythm of beatbox and poetry. All of it comes from the heart, the energy of which, according to scientists, ripples out into the world at least six metres.
Be assured the effects of Deep Azure will flow out even further, as fellow creatives, writers, spoken word artists, become inspired to create new worlds to consider.
On at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse until 11th April.
Booking and full details: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/deep-azure/
