Queens Theatre, Hornchurch – until 15th April 2023
Reviewed by Bobbi Fenton
4****
Set in the 1980’s, Sucker Punch is a brilliant display of what life was like for young black men, at a time of racial inequality, accentuated by riots such as Brixton. We see Leon (Shem Hamilton) and Troy (Christian Alifoe), two friends who have grown up in a boxing club, take two completely different paths that both lead to the same concluding event. Leon is coached by Charlie (Liam Smith), who is in the habit of getting his hopes up that one of his boxers is going to win him a title, and constantly being let down. When Leon is the boxer to finally do this, we see Charlie making the financial decisions with Leons money, which eventually ends up being their downfall.
We see both boys face racist remarks and actions, particularly from boxer Tommy (John Rogers), who is one of the boxers to leave Charlie to move on to better things. As a direct result of a riot that Leon and Troy get caught up in, and react differently to, Troy decides to follow the guidance of his mother and move overseas to another boxing club, coached by the obnoxious Ray (Ray Strasser-King). We also see the development of Leons relationship with Becky (Poppy Winter), Charlie’s daughter, and in one painful scene we see how Leon is forced to make the most difficult decision of his life, because Charlie can’t stand the idea of his daughter dating someone who isn’t white.
The ending of the play is extremely poignant as we see Leon trying to come to terms with his mistake of letting Charlie handle all of his money, despite his history of not being very good with it.
Overall, it is an amazing show, and the entire cast work brilliantly with one another to deliver such a great play. With absolutely fantastic performances by Shem Hamilton as Leon, Christian Alifoe as Troy, Liam Smith as Charlie, and Poppy Winter as Becky, this show is undeniably wonderful.