Paul T Davies reviews Human Nurture at the Mercury Theatre Colchester.
Human Nurture
Mercury Theatre, Colchester.
25/2/22
4 Stars
Mercury Theatre Website
Roger and Harry grew up in care together, and their bond is so strong they could be brothers. Their friendship is such that it doesn’t matter that Roger is black and Harry is white- or does it? On Harry’s 18th birthday, Roger surprises Harry with a visit, with their beloved caterpillar cake, and with a mission to talk to Harry about his latest Tik-Tok post, in which he denounces white privilege and says he can’t be racist as his “best friend is black.” This powerful, taut, beautiful play by Ryan Calais Cameron wastes no words or time in getting to heart of the issue. With Roger now welcomed into his Gambian girlfriend’s family, and changing his name to Runaku, the play is one of identity, of finding one’s true self, as well as tensions surrounding race.
It’s powerfully performed by Justice Ritchie as Runaku and Lucas Button as Harry, effortlessly taking us into the warmth and friendliness of their shared experiences. The unshared experience, Runuka’s “otherness”, the lacerating and hideous power of the N word, is beautifully realised, the play never loses its temper and boils over into endless shouting, the actors keep a hold on the emotional content, letting us see the pain underneath. Harry is struggling to move on, to shake off the racism of his friends, to find his place in life, and to feel comfortable with his friend’s growing maturity.
It’s a message that needs to be heard, and at about 60 minutes long, it left me, and my friends in the audience, wanting more, and in places the dialogue feels a little too lifted from social media. But that’s also it’s strength, it’s visceral rawness and energy making a strong impression, along with the live soundtrack played throughout.
