Robert Tanitch reviews Luce at Southwark Playhouse, London SE1
American playwright J C Lee sets his drama within a modern context: the fear of home grown terrorism.
Luce (Martins Imhangbe) is a 17-year-old high school student who has written an essay in praise of a right-wing terrorist. His teacher (Natasha Gordon) is concerned and even more so when she finds illegal fireworks in his locker. She contacts his parents (Mel Giedroyc and Nigel Whitmey).
Why don’t they confront him directly rather than go round in circles? There would, of course, be no play if they did. Instead they jump to conclusions and things get blown out of proportion.
Luce was born in the Congo and adopted when he was 7 by a white American couple. He is popular, academically bright and athletic. He stands a good chance of getting a scholarship to a leading university.
Has Luce cracked under the pressure of the high expectations of his adoring parents and of the high expectations of the school? He resents being a role model.
So is Luce a terrorist? Go and see Martins Imhangbe’s impressive and ambiguous performance in Simon Dormandy’s well-acted production and make up your own mind.
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