Filmed during its run at Stratford East earlier this year, Nkenna Akunna’s cheeky little brown is a rather complicated monologue with songs performed by Tiajna Amayo as Lady (and other characters she encounters at her best friend Gemma’s birthday party).
At first, all seems well as Lady is excited to be there, but then we realise the two young women have grown apart and that there are some difficult topics to navigate around obsession and addiction.
Aldo Vazquez’s set and costumes are complemented in this online version (presented by Bristol Old Vic) by on-screen lyrics, split screens, and other flourishes you wouldn’t have seen live. I think a few details seen from the stage could be easily overlooked on screen, though.
Although Amayo is deeply convincing as a woman driven by drink, overeating, and jealousy, the play does have a tendency now and then to wander and to veer into the realm of hysteria.
Director Chinonyerem Odimba encourages Amayo to keep moving physically as well as emotionally, which gives cheeky little brown a sense of tension and pace.
With the leading lady on crutches following an accident earlier in the run, it is an interesting decision to do this but completely ignore that the actor does not have full agency over her body.
The sound (Esther Kehinde Ajayi) and lighting (Jodie Underwood) is exquisite, powerful, and colourful, adding a sense of desperation and urgency to the play.
Akunna has an inspired sense of the speech of young Black women and sketches a strong supporting character in Jessie. She’s so dominant in the piece it should perhaps be called cheeky little jessie.
Lady, whose most lasting relationship has been with her food, is deeply irritating but captures our empathy and pity. We have met people like this, who find it hard to accept peace or happiness in their lives.
This is someone whose rage and envy has eaten her up, whose self-destruction stops her taking that step towards self-acceptance. So she lashes out, makes a scene, drives people away.
And Gemma, well, she takes the path that is easiest for her to live with. But there may be a rocky road ahead.
cheeky little brown is a good snapshot of a life in crisis, but pussyfoots around a couple of plot twists, especially in a late confrontation with Gemma.
You can watch cheeky little brown via Bristol Old Vic Online until 2 Nov with details here.
***.5