BOOK OF GRACE
Image credit — Alex Brenner
The Book Of Grace by Suzan-Lori Parks
Written as a companion piece to her previous play Topdog/Underdog, The Book Of Grace is a revealing drama that inserts us into the lives of an estranged son, father and his fathers second wife, Grace.
Buddy (Daniel Francis-Swaby) and his father Vet (Peter De Jersey) have spent over a decade removed from one another’s lives. Buddy arrives on his fathers doorstep after agreeing to visit due to the persuasive manner, and a long line of letters from Grace (Ellena Vincent).
The performance opens with Grace singing a song of hope, reflective of her aspirations for a rekindling of Buddy and Vet’s relationship and her own dreams of a different life. The notes of her song eerily counteracted as they flow through a tattered star spangled banner hanging above our heads on barbed wire.
Buddy, a former military man now looking for work, is face to face with his father, a patriotic border control security officer on the Mexico-United States border. We quickly learn that there is more to Buddy’s visit than reconciliation with his father. He’s open to giving Vet three strikes and when those are up, his bid for connection turns to a mission of vindication and vengeance.
Locked in a closet of skeletons that don’t belong to her, Grace works two jobs. Running tables at a diner and managing the fragility of her seemingly redeemed husband. Her continued optimism is bittersweet as she shares a secret with Buddy - The Book Of Grace. A book that she is writing, filled with the good that she finds in each day, hidden away under the floorboards in their living room in fear of her husband finding it.
As Vet shows his son that he is indeed more patriot than person, Buddy and Grace form somewhat of an unspoken alliance in an emotional world that is as barren as the land they find themselves in.
On the surface, the themes of the play are ambition, family ties, love and the power of redemption. But, under the astounding direction of Femi Elufowoju Jr, the play becomes multifaceted as it speaks candidly about the power of borders, patriotism and patriarchy and their effect on the family structure.
We watch as American patriotism aids Vet in the continued loss of his moral conviction, believing that he is standing on ‘the good foot’ due to his work stopping ‘aliens’ from getting over the border while continuing to abuse and humiliate his wife and son. As the play unfolds, it’s clear that Grace’s name signifies more than a means of address, it is a declaration of her posture - one of giving
grace to those who oppress and hoping that, if she holds on for long enough, the grace she has freely given will find its way back to her.
The set, cleverly designed by William Fricker and Rae Smith, provides the characters with all that they needed to survive; a sofa, a working fridge, kitchenette, bed and a live feed of the border, echoing the hand of patriotism within the black family structure. Enough to keep you alive and obedient, but nothing more.
The play is at its most powerful when the airs and graces that the characters keep are removed as their focus becomes safety and survival. Grace, skillfully played by Ellena Vincent, transforms from a beacon of light and hope to a woman filled with righteous anger that has been quashed for far too long. In this moment, we see the parallel between Vet’s slipping mask of redemption and Buddy, cowering as he realises the bravado he brought with him to his fathers house will be of no use to him anymore.
The Book Of Grace is gripping, relevant and exposes many of the forces at play within our lives for what they truly are. In some moments it’s incredibly poignant, yet in others the story itself becomes confusing. With moments of stellar performance from the cast, the lack of clarity surrounding why the events play out as they do, leaves something more to be desired.
Ultimately, this play encourages us to ask questions - can we be redeemed? How much are you willing to endure in the hope that your grace will serve you in the end? And most importantly, who are we when we refuse to play the character that patriarchy, patriotism and racism has awarded us?
By Jojo Dixon
The Book Of Grace is showing at the Arcola Theatre until the 08 June, 2024.
★★★☆☆