Reviews

Lincoln Road (tour – Ipswich)

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6 November 2010

Four actors. 19 parts. That’s Lincoln Road, Eastern Angles’ latest touring production, in cross-section. The thoroughfare in question runs through Peterborough and is home to a diverse population. Danusia Iwaszko has expanded last year’s site-specific short play to make a full evening’s entertainment.

At the heart of these matters is Gianni, of Italian descent and his friend Nadeeda, of Anglo-Pakistani parentage. Gianni hatches the idea of a carnival to bring the city’s different cultures into harmony rather than conflict – though he’s not precisely in harmony with himself. Turning an idea into reality isn’t as straightforward as he initially thinks. On this path he is both helped and hindered as the initially somewhat selfish plan takes on a force of its own.

Director Naomi Jones} is well-served by her cast, particularly by [Jason Deer as a Zimbabwean refugee, a money-conscious councillor and the mischievous spirit of carnival itself. Dialenga Scott matches him as sensible Nadeeda and two generations of Italian motherhood. Theo Devaney plays the self-centred side of Gianni as well as his out-going nature while Naveed Khan is Nadeeda’s cousin and a host of other characters.