Review: MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE, Liverpool Playhouse - Tour
Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz
A performance intertwining the intricacies and issues of racism and living in a working class society with a main homoerotic plot line, My Beautiful Laundrette is a true honour to its titular screenplay by Hanif Kureshi. No other play could cover as much heavy content without weighing down an audience.
Based in a working class town in Thatcherite Britain, young man Omar (Lucca Chadwick-Patel) is sent to his uncle’s to find work where he is quickly placed in the failing laundrette business. With the help of his school friend Johnny, played by Sam Mitchell, their business and their relationship begin to blossom despite the external issues that they face.
The standout performer is certainly Kammy Darweish playing Omar’s uncle, Nasser. Darweish totally embodies the role, asserting dominance over each individual and holding control over the room. Whilst his character’s prominence is a key element within the piece, amidst the violence and fascism that the family face, there is also a moment when a broken and suffering Nasser is impeccably portrayed. Nasser discusses the expectations of the roles of women in society and family with his daughter, Tania, played by Sharan Phull. Together, the pair create an emotionally taxing sequence of stillness and upset within the passion and chaos, reminding audiences of the cultural struggles that are still faced in societies today.
It is difficult to highlight one technical standout alone as this piece is a spectacle to behold. The complete lighting design by Ben Cracknell, to the magnificent ‘Powders’ centrepiece and the intrinsic use of neon pipe lighting to each subtle shift in lighting state to affect the mood, work together to provide an emotionally rich performance that can be contemplated for days.
At one point in this piece, one character starts reciting volatile dialogue which is then overlaid by the same speech that was originally recited by Margaret Thatcher herself, commenting on the harsh society that the group are growing up and growing old in. Nobody is safe and nobody is promised the life that they were sold.
Despite a few questionable moments in the script, My Beautiful Laundrette is a true masterpiece of performance in clarity, storytelling and giving voice to the ongoing issues which are still prevalent today. To be a spectator of this show is to be a spectator to a life rarely seen unless behind closed doors.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Harley Keasey
My Beautiful Laundrette plays at the Liverpool Playhouse until 30 March, before continuing its UK tour. For more information, please click here.