Tony Kushner's has magnificently created a musical of its time (1963) but at same time for today. As he explains in his programme notes, the play comes from sorrow, anger and grief but also hope learned from history which has shown us both the terrors and also the pleasures of change. It is about a period of American History, the time of JFK's assassination in streets of Dallas and close to 100 years since the American Civil war ended slavery. A time of race relation tensions and the civil rights movement of African Americans. It's highly charged emotional themes resonate with the Global tensions of today and the desire for change with greater diversity and equality in every field.
It is powerful musical built around strong black female characters with soulful voices. At the centre of them is Caroline, the maid to the Gellman family , proud and hard working but struggling with her own grief and supporting her family of four children as well as adjusting to the societal changes. A twenty dollar bill becomes the catalyst for change in the Gellman family and for Caroline herself . Sharon D Clarke is awesome as Caroline , the maid of twenty two years who never smiles, bearing her sorrow with a stillness and pent up anger as she belts out her melancholy songs with emotion and strength while dreaming of being kissed by Nat King Cole. Her daughter Emmie (Abiona Omonua) reflects what is going on outside the basement that imprisons her mother and becomes the rebellious mouthpiece for change. She is full of energy, animated and sassy and the symbol of a more optimistic future.
