cheeky little brown, tiata fahodzi review
Reviewed by Penny for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Cheeky Little Brown is a new musical and coming of age story from leading British African heritage contemporary theatre company tiata fahodzi. Produced in association with Bristol Old Vic On Screen it is available to stream until 2nd November 2024.
It’s a one person show, featuring Tiajna Amayo as Lady, who tells us the story of her friendship with best “sister friend” Gemma – how they met, grew up together, moved their relationship beyond friendship and then split apart six months before the play’s action takes place. Meeting again at Gemma’s birthday party in her fancy new flat, alongside her fancy (i.e. white) new Uni friends, Lady struggles to fit in and reconnect with the most important relationship in her life.
Tiajna Amayo is a very charismatic performer, instantly grabbing your attention and, despite her character’s rather loud public meltdown, she always keeps the audience’s sympathy and her energy never drops. Amayo also plays the other key characters in the story. Seen through Lady’s gaze, Gemma’s new housemate Jessie is a patronizing and rather controlling presence – the filmed production allowed for a split-screen to show us both characters, giving us Lady’s reactions to Jessie’s overbearing and over polite interventions – which allows this talented actor to tell us exactly what Lady is thinking with a close up on a change of facial expression.
Playwright Nkenna Akunna has written a piece where the language is almost poetic at times, including original songs that, whilst not being particularly memorable, do give us an insight into Lady’s inner thoughts. Amayo’s singing reveals a voice with a gorgeous tone and resonance that shows Lady’s more vulnerable side. Her lullaby to a doner kebab (!) manages to highlight the character’s isolation now that her important bond with Gemma is no more.
Direction from Chinonyerem Odimba gives the play a good pace. There is no need for a complex set, as we move smoothly from the party, to a kebab shop, to the night bus, to Lady’s home through subtle lighting changes and use of simple stage furniture.
There are three clear sections to this play that all give us an insight into Lady’s life and experiences as a young black woman. The party sets up the relationship at the heart of the play and the final section back at Lady’s home brings more humanity to the characters in this relationship. The middle section – as Lady fends off unwanted male advances and travels home – feels a little less well developed and doesn’t hold my attention as well as the rest of the piece.
Filmed at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, the play largely works well on screen, the use of close ups making it a more intimate experience than it possibly would be watching as a member of a live audience. Whilst the use of split screens does enable us to see Lady’s reactions to the other characters with whom she’s interacting, it’s not always immediately clear who is who when we have more than two “different” characters on the screen.
Cheeky Little Brown is well worth a watch – it’s a funny, honest and raw story of friendship, queerness, heartbreak and growing up and includes an exceptional central performance from Tiajna Amayo.
Cheeky Little Brown is available to stream from the tiata fahodzi and Bristol Old Vic websites until 2nd November 2024.
☆ ☆ ☆
