The cast of A Good House at Royal Court Theatre.Sihle and Chris meet on a driveway. One is eager to get to work, the other is most likely the foreman whose workmen have disappeared, leaving the road blocked with their cement truck. The brief conversation which ensues, demonstrates the fundamental error of racism, namely that suppositions made without information (and it’s by no means the only one in the play), are foolhardy and ignorant. But, whilst such encounters prove skin-crawlingly awkward in real life, they make for skin-creepingly entertaining theatre, and A GOOD HOUSE is riddled with the sort of blatant bigotry and clumsy assumptions ripe with opportunity. Thankfully the cast tease-out every last one of them.
A moneyed black couple have the house of their dreams. Tastefully furnished and reflective of their success, they are ready to open their home to the neighbour who mistook Sihle for a workman on the driveway two years before. Ostensibly a get-to-know-you over cheese and wine (what took them so long?), the mood quickly changes. Persons unknown have recently erected an unsightly shack down the road which could ruin the neighbourhood and diminish property values. Sardinian Merlot and an exotic cheese board hardly seem appropriate when there are concerns and resentments to air, and a campaign to mount to ensure the interlopers (whoever they may be) are removed before they settle for good.
Divisions between 3 couples and differing perceptions within those couples, quickly manifest as the politesse wears thin. Suppressing long-held beliefs and entrenched opinions when they are integral to your lived experience, proves a huge struggle and when the arguments erupt, they are tense and volcanic.
A superb ensemble cast gently tease maximum discomfort from the text under the sensitive and subtle direction of Nancy Medina and the design by ULTZ is vibrant and wholly evocative of the environment. The Royal Court has once again come up trumps with this co-production with the Bristol Old Vic and Johannesburg based Market Theatre.
CAST
Bonolo - Mimî K Khayisa
Sihle - Sifiso Mazibuko
Andrew - Kai Luke Brummer
Lynette - Olivia Darnley
Jess - Robyn Rainsford
Christopher - Scott Sparrow
