The stage is one giant telly. The lights dim. It switches on and all the middle-aged mums and dads in the Oxford Playhouse audience are giddily transported back to the 1970s; Play School is on! And standing there in her multi-coloured sweater with wide eyes and an even wider smile is Play School presenter Floella Benjamin (superbly played by Julene Robinson) to welcome us to the show.
Thus starts ‘Coming To England’, David Wood’s musical/theatre adaptation of Floella Benjamin’s autobiography READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH DAVID WOOD HERE detailing her extraordinary journey (in every sense) from her childhood in her native Trinidad to life in 1960s London to eventually becoming a successful TV presenter, actor, singer, author and politician.
In Trinidad, Floella’s life is one of innocent bliss, warmth, sunshine and love from her mother, father and five siblings. This all changes when her adventurous father (somewhat impulsively) decides to emigrate to cold, drab London to pursue a musical career.
‘Coming To England succeeds in the same way that Floella does; by refusing to let the negatives dominate’
After being abused in a foster family, she is delighted to rejoin her family in London only to discover that the London of her dreams is far removed from reality, as she encounters racism on a seemingly daily basis.
She is ignored in shops, told to ‘go back to the jungle.’, and in one particularly heartbreaking scene, chastised by her heartless school teacher for reciting Wordsworth’s poetry in her native West Indian accent, while desperately attempting to change her pronunciation.
However, with love and support from her mother she begins to fight back – not literally, she is at pains to stress – instead declaring ‘my smile is my armour.’ Cue a rendition of Charlie Chaplain’s famous song ‘Smile’. And with even more determination she states: ‘I will fight them with my BRAIN.’
And she does. With seemingly endless reserves of determination, good-will and pride.
This production of ‘Coming To England’ succeeds in the same way that Floella does; by refusing to let the negatives dominate. Like Floella, it is determined to be uplifting, joyful and positive. I enjoyed the colourful costumes, brightly lit stage and enthusiasm of all the cast. And I’m still humming songs like ‘Family’ and the title track as I’m writing this.
‘Perfect entertainment for the whole family’, the flyer reads. Indeed it is.
Edward Bliss
Coming to England runs at Oxford Playhouse tonight BOOK HERE (Saturday Sept 21) before it tours to Lichfield Garrick, Cheltenham Everyman, Southampton MAST, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Salford The Lowry, Birmingham Rep Theatre, Northampton Royal and Derngate until March 2025. Book here https://www.comingtoengland.com/#book-now
