Stage Review MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE

Jonny Fines and Omar Malik in My Beautiful Laundrette Photography by Ellie Kurttz

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Until Saturday 9th November, it is the Birmingham Rep's turn to stage this new adaptation of Hanif Kureishi’s 1985 Oscar-nominated film, My Beautiful Laundrette. 

This is a thought provoking play, a carefully crafted piece of work, stylised, and well thought out. It will leave you happy and sad in equal measures for the state of British society both then and now. Nikolai Foster superbly directs. The designing attached to the production is admirable. 

Set in 1980's London, where a long-time established community is fast becoming more multicultural - in the city’s more deprived areas especially; so tensions are boiling.

However, this is very much a story from many viewpoints. The race divide is a main topic, and the writing candidly reveals an unwillingness from both the National Party supporters: the white males (the skinheads); and the money-making fascinations of the British Pakistani men to change behaviour and be less discriminatory to each other.

Young Omar’s philosophical and worn up Papa, from his day bed, blames the troubles in his corner of England on poor education. While Nassar and Salim choose to trade (sometimes unscrupulously), and run their businesses from poor quality set-ups in cheap areas. Where the fascist minded gangs snub them and stick together in doing so, with occasional aggressive outbursts spilling over. Scenes include acts of physical fights between men from opposing sides; and sometimes Nassar lashes out at his daughter, Tania.

The roles of the British Pakistani women - the wife, the mistress and Tania and their place in the home and in the wider society is very telling in this work. 

Though it all sounds rather heavy, it is actually an uplifting tale about Omar. At the beginning he is a disenfranchised individual, a romantic sort. Johnny, though from the other side of the fence, is similar. Omar finds Johnny a muse. They fall in love. Together they manage to build and brand a respectful laundrette business.

This fine presentation of a particular 80s backdrop includes a soundtrack specially created for the show by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. The music of the duo, be it back catalogue Pet Shop Boys, or otherwise, twinned with the sound technology is essential to the all-encompassing, theatrical experience that this new production offers.  

 
Reviewer cannot describe the writing any better than what has been said already… ‘a culture clash comedy is also a subversive work of social realism, sprinkled with magic and joy running through’.

Lastly, and though all members of the nine strong cast play a blinder, marvel in Balvinder Sopal – see her switch so convincingly from being a sometimes undermined wife and mother, Bilquis; to playing young, Moose wearing blue jeans and a woolly hat; sporting a cocky attitude and a suitable swagger. Loved her!

Review by theatre critic, Debra Hall who attended the press night performance of My Beautiful Laundrette at The Birmingham Rep on Tuesday 05 November 7.30 pm

Balvinder Sopal as Moose - Photography by Ellie Kurttz