REVIEW | Duck, Arcola Theatre
★ ★ ★
Reviewer - Eliott
*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
Content warnings: racial slurs, swearing, bullying, police violence, Islamophobia. The show makes reference to the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London, and features a scene set in a holding cell at a police station.
Duck comes at a very timely moment in Cricket's history, as Racial Prejudice has recently come alight, so sitting in the more darkened moments with Ismail (Omar Bynon), it almost doesn't feel as though we are captured and whisked away from the outside world, but more mirroring what is a constant debate in the world of sport, even with maatin’s script set nearly two decades back now, to the 2005 Ashes.
Those who are less familiar with the game needn't worry, as the contract between the audience and production often feels like a guide to the world of Pairs, Outswings, Tracks, and the titular term, Duck; a Batman's dismissal with a no score. Imy Wyatt Corner directs in a way that lurches us between the high energy of maatin's words, to the more sombre and uncomfortable moments; theatre today is really drawing on the fine line of at points uncomfortableness, especially with the added use of captioning to convey moments which we cannot hide away from.
There's no definite end here in sight from Ismail; the dissection of New Coach Mr. Eagles' (also portrayed by Bynon in this monologue) racial undertones towards the British Muslim, whose parents came to England during the 1970s, are cleverly shielded early in the script, so the initial dismissal of 'smiley' Ismail hits harder as we have our suspicions confirmed as the script moves at pace. It's testimony to Omar Bynon here for providing a performance that's enduring to convey the innocence of Ismail, which slowly shatters throughout the piece, and we see a man who has been tainted by what so many still to this day experience under the eyes of those in power.
Duck is a considerable achievement in writing that should be praised and seen for itself; whilst a show that will likely not connect with many people, the setting and themes should not deter away any audience from attending; there's real comfort in our main protagonist to which we admire, and set against Maariyah Sharjil's set, we are just mere spectators of Ismail's journey, though it's sometimes a hard watch to handle.
