Community Service, Stan’s Cafe Review
Reviewed by Emmie for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
A play inspired by one of Midland’s first Black Police officers and an acclaimed gospel guitarist will have a profound impact when you witness Community Service on the stage. A production from Birmingham-based company Stan’s Cafe, this play delivers a stark reminder of the conflict he faced on the streets, at work and in church.
Starring Reisz Amos, Kianyah Caesar-Downer, Tinashe Darikwa, Yasmin Dawes, and Dominic Thompson, Community Service whisks us through the remarkable life of community champion Trevor Prince. The play delves deep into the socio-political landscape of Thatcher’s Britain, the Handsworth Riots, miner’s strikes, and the pervasive presence of casual racism, resonating strongly with the audience's emotions. While the production boasts a captivating array of movement concepts, it grapples with maintaining the right pacing throughout its scenes. The movement style utilised during the riots was explosive and brilliantly choreographed with chairs by Steady Steadman. It was details like this peppered throughout the piece which made it so good to watch.
The company heavily relies on their company manager to coordinate the diverse requirements for props and furniture essential to each scene. Her pivotal role ensures a seamless flow, crucial to the overall delivery of the performance. There’s also the addition of a gorgeous four-man band who bring a refreshing element of live music (Ashleigh Hepburn, Jamael Jarrett, CJ Thompson and Reisz Amos).
The cast in this production exhibits sheer brilliance, seamlessly transitioning between multiple characters. Undoubtedly, the audience thoroughly enjoyed the comedic elements pushed to the extremes by the company in Community Service which proved highly effective.
Personally, I found certain aspects of the play lacking completion. There were moments where the audience craved deeper insights into specific areas of the storyline and therefore it felt slightly weak. However, overall Community Service has the potential to do a lot more with its narrative and I’d love to see that moving forward.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
