On the Ropes by Vernon Vanriel and Dougie Blaxland - ★★★☆☆

On the Ropes: A musical-ish tale of man we wish we’d heard of before…

On the Ropes follows British Caribbean boxer Vernon Vanriel, former British no.2 in the 1980s. The show provides a welcome, but heart-breaking insight into the harrowing true story of a fighter turned vagabond. Who, after a prolonged trip to Jamaica was left trapped on the island for 13 years, homeless and at the mercy of the UK’s new hostile and arbitrary immigration policy.

Presented as a musical, the audience follows Vernon’s transition from an upcoming boxing star (famously labelled as “The Entertainer”) to a drug and sickness-riddled man, whose career is derailed by his decision to speak out against the boxing cartel.

The narration of the “rounds’ of his life is accompanied by a nostalgic reggae-inspired soundtrack, with a song to match every stage of his life.

While the soundtrack created a lively atmosphere, adding to some of the more tender moments, the unoriginal score did not contribute to the development of the show. Instead, these moments felt more like song breaks interrupting the heavy script provided by co-writers Vanriel and Dougie Blaxland.

Strong performances from supporting cast Ashley Gayle and Amber James, who, while playing several characters seamlessly switched between police officers, pundits, parents and lovers, acting as the vessels through which Anastasia Osei-Kuffour chose to depict and narrate this tale. And, while some character portrayals felt caricature-esque in nature, they both navigated the content-heavy script with ease and at times, some much-needed humour. With their efforts supporting the unfortunately ill-stricken Mensah, who despite his lethargy masterfully navigated the challenge of ageing 50 years before our eyes, with further redemption found in his vocal abilities.

Ultimately, however, big ambitions to creatively share the full breadth of Vernon’s story came at a price. The slowly deconstructed boxing ring, (acting as a metaphor for Vernon’s mental detonation) and an arguably unnecessary musical accompaniment detracted from Vernon’s story and what a story that is. A story of unbelievable resilience in the face of repeated injustice from the UK government that, above all is worth telling. 

You can catch On the Ropes at Park Theatre until 04 February.