REVIEW: KINDLINESS by Daniel Chaves at Barons Court Theatre 17 – 22 November 2024

‘Powerful play featuring four fine actors’ ★★★★

Kindliness is a powerful play which packs a lot of tension and includes a couple of narrative surprises. Daniel Chaves, playwright who has also produced this show and plays Malcolm, is evidently a man of many talents.

We first meet Malcolm and his presumed partner Mimi (Lucy Kean) who is rather irritatingly trying to distract him from his work. He’s an architect designing a bridge on his laptop. Then we see him with his wife, Amara (Fia Houston-Hamilton) and son, Little Thing (Victoria Chen) and realise that he’s two-timing.

But this much more than a three way love tussle. We’re in an unnamed – but totally plausible – place where two communities hostile to each other live on either side of a river. Malcolm’s idealistic view is that his bridge will enable the two sides to come together – a symbol of reconciliation. What actually happens is the diametric opposite. 

And added into the mix is that Mimi, who is pregnant, is one of “them” although she has lived in the opposing community for a long time, while Amara, Malcolm and Little Thing are definitely “us” so, when the going gets rough, Malcolm has to choose. It’s a gripping exploration of exclusion, prejudice, war, peace and what makes a family – among other things.

All four actors are outstanding and very well directed by Jenny Eastop in the tiny crucible which is Baron’s Court Theatre. Chaves gives us smooth talking, guilt, anger, panic and a lot more. Houston- Hamilton is terrific as the rational, sensible Amara desperately worried about her child who has asthma. She evinces grown up, steely calm when the other adults are, with good reason, becoming hysterical. 

Kean does a wonderful job first, of a flirty girl friend, later of a woman screaming in terror and ultimately a tranquil new mother. The Mimi she creates is a nuanced character. And Chen, who is suitably petite, is a completely believable child, charging about in excitement when not lying prone in illness.

KINDLINESS by Daniel Chaves

Part of VOILA Festival

At Barons Court Theatre

17 – 22 November 2024

Box Office https://www.voilafestival.co.uk/events/kindliness/ 

Directed by: Jenny Eastop (2024 Ovation Award Winner for Best Director and 3 Time Offie Nominee)

Written & Produced by: Daniel Chaves

Designed by: Jasmine Kint

Cast:

Amara - FIA HOUSTON-HAMILTON (Hollyoaks, Coronation Street)

Malcolm - DANIEL CHAVES (The Night of The Iguana - West End)

Little Thing - VICTORIA CHEN (As You Like It - Orange Tree Theatre)

Mimmi - LUCY KEAN (Sweeney Tood - Shotgun Theatre Company)