Set in London during the 1980s Sucker Punch follows the relationship of Leon and Troy, two young black men who have been caught breaking into a local boxing gym and are now paying penance to, gym owner, Charlie (Liam Smith) in exchange for him not involving the police in their misdemeanors.
Why these two young men break into the gym in the first place was not clear, it does not matter. What does matter is that the middle-aged Charlie is white, racist, sexist and homophobic and these two young men are at his mercy.
On entering the theatre it is 1981. Ska music plays. Charlie and protégé Tommy (John Rogers) are warming up and then training in the ring as the audience settle. Sandra Falase’s set very successfully creates the back street gym typified in the East End of London; the boxing ring, tough leather punch bags and harsh metal lockers, corrugated iron mixed with old brick, posters bragging of long fought contests, framed images of boxing legends proudly arranged around Queen Elizabeth II.
As the lights go down and the training on stage intensifies, we are immersed in the aggressive, highly charged atmosphere of the gym where Leon (Shem Hamilton) and Troy (Christian Alifoe) are clearly fish out of water. As they gently jostle each other chatting, laughing, expressing gentle fraternal rivalry, expected teenage indignation at having to clean white men’s toilets, we see a tender brotherhood emerge between them.
The story follows their journey, their brotherhood, their dreams, and the fracture caused between them when they respond differently to the riots in Brixton and Broadwater Farm. Troy chooses to fight, Leon goes for flight and an abandoned Troy rejects his friend, his country, the life he knows, for the promise of a better future in the USA. Leon stays behind, starting a secret relationship with Charlie’s daughter Becky and focusing on achieving sporting success. His charming but feckless and hustling father Squid comes in and out of his life depending on how empty his wallet is. Charlie becomes the consistency Leon needs and despite his distasteful beliefs and opinions, like a father to him.
Both young men immerse themselves in the world of boxing and see it as a way to gain the money, respect and status that they have never had the opportunity to grasp. Inevitably they come up against each other in the fight of their lives, the puppets of boxing trainers and promoters who are more than happy to lay claim to their share of the purse as black man beats black man for the entertainment of the white.
I would like to say the piece in punctuated by the casual homophobia, expected misogyny and blatant racism of the era but it isn’t, it is littered with it. It is a stark and brutal reminder of just how casually vile the era was. The piece has much to say about the treatment of young black men, the expressed abhorrence of mixed-race relationships, the sexualization of women, the broken father /son dynamic, the condemnation of one black man by another as he is accused of being Uncle Tom.
Confidently directed by Nathan Powell the drama of these two young boys and the very different men they place their trust and faith in, is powerful and visually dynamic.
The audience, very much like a boxing crowd looking into the ring are drawn the action. The use of strobe lighting, echo and smoke create an excellent atmosphere and focus on the violence and verbal sparring of the characters. Strong performances from a talented and well cast group of actors results in a powerful piece of theatre.
Shem Hamilton excels as Leon as we see his journey from the subservient to the star. The monologues of his career fights are both moving and captivating and the final battle between him and his old friend is heartbreaking in its brutality.
Becky (Poppy Winter), Charlie’s daughter and Leon’s secret girlfriend, is our moral compass, the voice of reason and sense. Used as a pawn in the battle between Charlie and Leon she is rejected by the man she clearly loves for the sake of his ambition but ends up the only one who is true to themselves.
This is a great production. Funny, harsh, poignant and brash. It is fast-paced, jam packed and pulls no punches. Well directed, cleverly designed, well choreographed and maturely performed, it grabs you, shakes you up and leaves you slightly bruised and bloodied but definitely up for more.
Playing until 6th May, https://thelowry.com/whats-on/sucker-punch/
Reviewer: Lou Kershaw
Reviewed: 2nd May 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★