Black Superhero at the The Royal Court TheatreIn his first play, actor/activist Danny Lee Wynter explores and taps many, if not most taboo subjects (hence the comprehensive list of trigger warnings posted by the venue in advance of the press night), but the resultant work is smoothly engaging, jarringly combative, insightful, funny and in one particular scene, gut-wrenchingly disturbing. Three friends bicker, goad and cajole each other, revealing previously unexplored sexual tensions and attractions. King (Dyllón Burnside), an actor who is enjoying movie success as a BLACK SUPERHERO named Craw (think Black Panther meets Batman) and has recently opened his relationship with lover Steven (Ben Allen), admits to having long-suppressed desires for David after the latter’s fiery altercation with mutual friend Raheem (Eloka Ivo).
During its sprightly 2hours running time David the damaged central character (played by Wynter himself) offloads his inner angst by degrees — starting as truculently passive aggressive whilst discussing his objections to the way successful friends enjoy the white man’s system without paying it back to other gay black guys. He discusses paternal memories with his long-suffering worldly wise sister Syd (Rochenda Sandall). Later still, he recounts a sequence of therapy sessions in which he began to scratch the substance of his inner turmoil and finally, during a humorously misjudged seduction of him by Kweku (Ali Mitchell) whilst drunk and high on cocaine, the floodgates open and with an icily-controlled visceral monotone, his true block to happiness and love of self, is revealed. Reassuringly, in a world rightly obsessed by latent mental health issues, this leads to a gentle and optimistic eye cast to the future.
The play is peppered throughout with self-aware, lived experience and rarely puts a foot wrong. Exchanges are ascerbic and sometimes brittle. Other scenes espouse physical sexuality free from mental constraints whilst acknowledging the prevailing societal norms which subconsciously impose themselves on us all. The arguments are intelligent and sensitive to differing perceptions, whilst the fantasy hero worship of Craw, is made manifest in suspended caped-clad scenes entertainingly imbued with the sort of trite exchanges which mock the oft-attempted profundity and gravitas of the genre. Joanna Scotcher’s simple illuminated isosceles of fluorescent strips, neatly defines the playing area in Director Daniel Evans scorcher of an evening.
It certainly won’t be the blue rinse brigade’s cup of tea and perhaps anyone who is still coming to terms with overbearing and unappreciative paternal influences may struggle through moments, but BLACK SUPERHERO is a wild and eye-popping ride well worth straddling, but don’t forget to hold on!
