Review: A Raisin in the Sun (Lyric Hammersmith Theater)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An extraordinary production of one of the greatest plays of the last century.

In 1937, Carl Hansberry bought a property for his family in Woodlawn, an all-white neighborhood in Chicago. Not wanting black families to move into the area, around 500 white homeowners signed an agreement “that no part of the land shall be sold, leased, or inhabited by any person of the colored race for a specified period of time.” Carl Hansberry litigated against this through the Illinois courts and all the way to the Supreme Court.

Carl’s daughter, Lorraine Hansberry’s family drama, A raisin in the sun premiered on Broadway in March 1959 and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best play of the year. This made her the fifth woman and the youngest recipient of the award at that time. And to this day she is the only African-American woman to ever win it. Inspired by her own father’s legal battles, A raisin in the sun tells the story of the Younger family and their attempts to find freedom in a society that wants to oppress them forever.

Ruth (Cash Holland), her husband Walter Lee (Solomon Israel) and their son Travis prepare for the day ahead, but life-changing news is in the mail. Water Lee’s father recently passed away and they are expecting an insurance check for $10,000 to arrive. As the final voice on what happens to the money, Lena or Mama (Doreene Blackstock) is caught between a number of options. Her son Walter Lee dreams of board meetings and Cadillacs and wants to put everything into a business plan from his friend Willie. Lena’s other child Beneatha (Joséphine-Fransilja Brookman) dreams of studying medicine and becoming a doctor. Ruth, learning that she is pregnant again and fearful that they might survive with another mouth to feed, just wants to get out of these four walls. Accompanying this decision is Beneatha and her discovery of who she really is, caught between her college-educated boyfriend George (Gilbert Kyem Jr.) and Joseph (Kenneth Omole), a Nigerian-born member of the growing civil rights movement.

This cast is firing on all cylinders, it’s an acting tour de force from each member and I was truly on the edge of my seat. The beauty of Hansberry’s script is that every single actor has so much to do, it’s a perfect balance. As a reviewer, I have the unfortunate problem of being at a loss for words. The overall feeling is just one of joy at seeing eight top-notch actors perform one of the greatest plays. That being said, Doreene Blackstock is masterful as the matriarch Lena and it’s hard for me to describe it beyond the fact that she honestly may have given the best performance I’ve ever seen. You have to take care of her.

Although they are short, some scene changes are staged with real flair by Max Pappenheim. Fast and propulsive, they manage to tell a story every time: the hum of Chicago, the industrial groans, gospel, jazz, big band, drums, the sound of a railroad gang, everything fits together beautifully. Cécile Trémolières’ dilapidated room is rotting, the paint and walls seem to be peeling on the cockroach-infested carpet, but Lena’s green plant always remains bright. Her design still gives us a sense of depth, the back staircase looms large and we get glimpses into the other rooms of the house, coupled with Joshua Pharo’s lighting, we experience some truly breathtaking moments of staging – the final image is truly something else.

A raisin in the sun is one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, and Tinuke Craig’s direction brings out the best in it. In heartbreaking detail, we see Lena’s attempts to free her family from the cycle of generational poverty and find some breathing room, free from the white American dream. I was completely touched and even though the critics were surprised at the standing ovation, I was immediately on my feet like the rest of the audience. I challenge you to go and watch it: laugh, cry and then think.

A raisin in the sun plays at the Lyric Hammersmith until November 2nd before moving to Nottingham Playhouse from November 5th to 16th.