This is how it goes (theatre)

A decent American?

So this is how it goes... or at least that's how our narrator remembers it. This Donmar Warehouse-staged, Neil LaBute-written play seeks to question, challenge and, at times, embarrass the audience's perception of race and political correctness.

It was apparently inspired by a letter received by the writer following his film Nurse Betty where, shock of shock and horror of horrors, an interracial kiss takes place. At least one so-signed 'decent American' expressed his disgust that the liberal showbiz left wing insisted on pedalling the perverse acceptance of such relationships. This letter adorns the first page of the programme and inspires an uncomfortable scenario of unintentioned(?) racist comments, childhood rivalries and domestic violence.

The audience is denied the safety blanket of a clear hero and villain. Ben Chaplin, our narrator and lead, jokingly and charmingly sets up each scene lulling us into a false sense of moral security. The scene will then mercilessly exploit this: a line will provoke a laugh before the audience corrects itself with shock and often ashamed silence. From the after show discussion it was interesting to hear how this varies considerably by demographic. Matinee performances apparently laugh harder and longer at these points...

There's no easy way to love this play. It's well performed, well staged and provoked a couple of hours of debate on racism and infidelity over drinks in the bar downstairs afterwards: maybe that's more appropriate and relevant acclaim.