A tender and tortured soul: Nathan Ives-Moiba as Marvin Gaye. Photo: Robert Day
Theatre: Hackney Empire
Play: Soul
Playwright: Roy Williams
Director: James Dacre
Review by Ronke Lawal
On April Fools’ Day 1984, hours before his 45th birthday, Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his father in the “Big House”, the shared family home owned by Gaye.
Soul, a ground-breaking play by Roy Williams, exposes the events which took place during Gaye’s tumultuous final days, and explores his extraordinary life.
The play is narrated by Gaye’s sisters, Jeanne (Petra Letang) and Zeola (Mimi Ndiweni). They reveal a history many of us never knew, from how Gaye’s parents met to the shocking secrets which should have broken apart this devoutly Christian family.
This story of family love and loyalty is underpinned by the challenges presented by the human ego coupled with astronomical celebrity success. The theme of love runs throughout the play, from the devoted marital love between Marvin Gaye Sr (Leo Wringer) and Alberta Gaye (Adjoa Andoh), to the sibling love between the young Marvin (Keenan Munn-Francis) and his sisters.
There is also the woman who becomes a muse for Gaye (Nathan Ives-Moiba) in the shape of Tammi Terrell (Abiona Omonua), a love that possibly shaped how he subsequently viewed the world and his music.
But then we are presented with the obsessive love Gaye had for his mother; an Oedipal love so passionately expressed by Ives-Moiba, which is possibly the catalyst that led to his death at the hands of his wildly jealous father.
The manner in which masculinity and male ego is dealt with in the play is in keeping with the attitudes of that era. Yet it’s hard to ignore the irony of Gaye Sr’s desire to tap into his feminine side despite his obvious machismo.
As for the women in Gaye’s life, they succumbed to gender stereotypes, sacrificing their own identities to satisfy the emotional needs of this musical legend. Sadly Gaye always reflects on the hate he receives from his own father rather than focus on the love he already has in his life.
The love-hate relationship between Gaye and his father are powerfully realised by Ives-Moiba and Wringer. It’s like watching a game of chess, seeing who will outwit whom for the heart of Alberta, and for the accolade of “Man of The House”.
Soul is a story of paranoia, pain and purpose, shared poignantly on stage by a worthy cast. As each family member seeks to find their purpose and maintain the family honour, they are undone by their inability to let go of the pain. When Gaye and young Marvin interact, it shows how the ghosts of our past can haunt us and negatively impact our futures.
Having the Hackney Empire Community Choir backed by original music from Gordon Banks, Gaye’s longtime collaborator, brings the production to life. That said, this is not a musical. It’s a bioplay and an allegorical production which will either make you want to go away to find out more, or it will answer all the questions you have ever asked about one of the world’s most influential musicial artists.
A special mention has to go to Petra Letang who really shines brightly as Gaye’s sister Jeanne. Director James Dacre and designer Jon Bausor, bring nostalgia and atmosphere to this play, which is a true delight to watch, especially if you are Marvin Gaye fan.
Soul is at Hackney Empire until 3 July 2016.