Boi Boi Is Alive & Kicking

The fact that Boi Boi is Dead is set in Zimbabwe is an irrelevance since this is a play about all things human - hypocrisy, jealousy, family rifts, greed and survival, and such emotions know no geographical boundaries.

Zodwa Nyoni's new play is full of poignancy, has overtures of Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and is as pertinent to Leeds and London as it is to Cape Town, Hong Kong or Sydney. As I left the theatre my Chinese guest - clearly oblivious to the black faced cast - commented: "This was about Chinese families!"

In the same way that a unique marketing product can make someone rich - because it appeals to all sexes and age groups - so Nyoni has tapped into that source of universal human interest - emotion and relationships. One minute you are laughing, the next you feel embarrassed that you have because, for a split second, it felt so inappropriate.

I really enjoyed this play and feel sure that Nyoni, the West Yorkshire Playhouse's Channel 4 Writer in Residence last year - has a bright future. Although she grew up in Leeds, Zodwa was born in Zimbabwe which she has used as a source of inspiration to explore the complexity of extended family relationships.

Boi Boi was a talented jazz musician, a trumpeter. He dies and relatives quickly gather to lay claim to his remaining possessions. Stella, the ex wife, who couldn't get to his funeral but could make time to lay claim to his house, the bereaved man's 'mistress', Miriam who brought up his child Una but, in the absence of a wedding ring, is not recognised by the dead man's returning family.

Truths emerge, long standing feuds come to the surface. It is complex and sad but the performances were truly excellent; this was a first rate cast and I'm sure, there were many re-writes before this polished diamond was allowed to leave its African 'home'.

Raw emotions were complemented by the beautifully evocative and naturalistic set, lit brilliantly by Emma Chapman, and designed to make us feel a few degrees hotter even if I did have my coat and scarf across my knee!

Last year I attended the West Indian Festival in Chapeltown, Leeds, and bathed in the Afro Caribbean culture around me. No, Zimbabwe is not the Caribbean, but last night that Afro culture was ever present and it was great to watch these wonderful actors pedal their wares - Lynette Clarke as Una's self centred birth mother and good time girl, was excellent and so too were Angela Wynter as Miriam, Andrew French as Ezra and both Debbie Korley as Una and Joseph Adelakun as Petu.

Boi Boi, played by Jack Benjamin, is almost a side player, there as an aide mémoire to the main plot, however, his death is the inspiration for wider issues. This is a fascinating play because, on another day, it could be your house. There was no jerky chicken for sale this time, but Nyoni has proved that she is capable of dishing up a man for all seasons (and continents).

Until March 7th.