Showing @ King’s Theatre, Edinburgh until Sat 9 March
The 1989 Academy Award winning film with Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy was a sensation. Twenty years after the end of the American civil rights movement, it put Alfred Uhry’s play and its central themes in a Hollywood spotlight. It’s a light comedy-drama that takes on ideas of race, segregation, justice, equality, companionship and ageing. It’s a modern classic that encapsulates one of the key periods in American history and reflects the raw hope for change in policy and perspective we are seeing in the Middle East now.
In Georgia, home of Martin Luther King, Daisy (Gwen Taylor) is forced to confront her failing eyesight and inability to drive by son Boolie (Ian Porter) and so enter Hoke (Don Warrington), a chauffeur. The 90 minute play spans decades of their lives – from the moment Daisy reluctantly hires Hoke, until they are much older and Hoke’s services are no longer required.
David Esbjornson‘s production won the whatsonstage.com award for Best Revival in 2012. The civil rights movement bubbles under the surface of Daisy and Hoke’s relationship constantly. A simple set sits in front of a backdrop of changing projections that take us from Daisy’s home to the supermarket or Synagogue. It’s a tight and funny three-hander with heart and depth. Taylor and Warrington bounce off each other: the dialogue is natural and the humour timed precisely. The final scene is a poignant echo of King’s 1963 iconic speech: “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” As Hoke feeds Daisy, the reminder of their social positions is apparent but more prevalent is the idea of change somewhere in the not too distant future.
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