Review: SWEAT, Royal Exchange Theatre
Photo credit: Helen Murray
This spring, Jade Lewis brings Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Sweat to life in Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. Depicting politics taking place in 2000 and 2008 during the Bush administration, Nottage reveals the harsh realities of American politics and its destruction of unions once deemed imperishable. As well as its demolition of work unions, the broken bond between characters Cynthia and Tracey, played by Carla Henry and Pooky Quesnel, is notably the most tragic effect of the ‘flipping of the rustic belt’.
After working in the same factory for a lifetime, Sweat centres around their friendship alongside the ditsy and drunken Jessie, played by comedic genius Kate Kennedy, who completes their iconic trio. Capturing the true essence of female friendship and the laughs and cries that come with it, most of the plot is set in their local bar ran by bartender ex-factory worker and bartender Stan, played by Jonathan Kerrigan - a simple man in his 50s of whom the audience grow to feel real empathy for.
The set design by Good Teeth consists of a square stage which, at points, proves a little distracting in its rotation, with industrial blocks hanging above. Positioned as if they could fall at any minute, these blocks capture the theme of deindustrialisation and the anxieties that come with it.
The opening scene of the play introduces us to characters Jason, played by Lewis Gribben, and Chris, played by Abdul Sessay, in a prison cell, foreshadowing the tragic ending of the play. Later, we are re-introduced to the prison cell at the end of the play. Here, the scenes seem rushed for such a vital part of the plot; this was somewhat disappointing for a play so long-winded.
The plot takes a tragic turn when Cynthia gets a work promotion over Tracey, causing tension in their friendship. Interestingly, Tracey says that Cynthia only got the promotion through being a ‘minority’. Here, Nottage comments on the issues of racism in America and how it remains imbedded in small communities and friendships assumed inclusive. The social rejection of Oscar, played by Marcello Cruz, continues to expose this racism as he exclaims his struggle of being grouped into ‘we’ despite being born in Pennsylvania. Undoubtedly, themes of social injustice were relevant at the time in which Nottage was writing Sweat, just one year before the 2016 Donald Trump presidential election.
When the workers are made redundant in Act Two, Cynthia reacts ‘unaware’ and ‘apologetic’ as opposed to fighting for the people she loves, including her own son Chris. Here, Cynthia’s detachment to her old self is shown through her change in costume as her quirky, denim meets chunky belt inspired outfits evolves into a more formal and business attire.
Notably, Pooky Quesnel’s characterisation of Jessie is more than applaudable in her portrayal of working-class mum. From following her strut around the bar hand-on-hip and fiery to her emotional spiral and cry for help at the end of the play, Jessie is a character which is more than believable.
Capturing the domino-effect of the American recession on community, Sweat captures the true heartbreak of the effects of deindustrialisation. Arguably carried more by the talent of actors as opposed to direction, Sweat is a must-see performance with timeless relevance.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Lucy Bevan
Sweat plays at the Royal Exchange until 25 May, with further info here.