'A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes' Tricycle Theatre ****

At times there are moments where contextualisation’s or reworking’s of classical texts can be detrimental to the work of the genuine writers’ vision, however, some modifications can actually prove quite successful? The Tricycle Theatre’s production of Marcus Gardley’s play, ‘A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes’ which derives from Molière’s ‘Tartuffe’ is a delectable adaptation, moreover, the interpretations were extremely well depicted.  

‘A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes’ is set in Atlanta, Georgia where we’re familiarised with a church congregation who are being preached by The Righteous Reverend Prelate Prophetic Apostle Tardimus Tito Jermaine Toof who is somewhat manipulative with how he minister’s his church congregation and with his private meetings where he asks to be paid for his services. His wife, First Lady Loretta Toof is always anxious that her husband could be cheating on her so when she catches him with Maxine (Michelle Bonnard), but Loretta gets the wrong end of the stick as he frequently tries to pull himself away from her. As such; his wife is suffering slightly as he has cheated on her before. When Mother Organdy (Angela Wynter) informs that her son the multimillionaire tycoon, Archibald Beaurgard Ichabad Organdy is at the end of his days, Toof has been called to see him. Also he is depressed which is causing problems with his relationships; such as with his fiancée, Peaches (Adjoa Andoh) and his son, Gumper (Karl Queensborough) who is in fact gay. Over the course of the performance, Toof has been bombarding Organdy with an intense amount of sermonizing and when Organdy’s daughter, Africa (Ayesha Antoine) returns after a long absence is pleased that her father is seeking salvation from God, nonetheless, is Toof’s teachings really helping him or is he is in fact interfering his mind? Like most sibling relationships, Gumper and Africa are constantly squabbling and when Gumper reveals that he wants to be a flight attendant and announces that he’s gay, his father is disgusted and demands that he goes through a course of therapy to get rid of the gayness. On the other hand, Peaches is worried that because of Toof’s meddling may harm Organdy’s relationship with his children and is he making life hell for them as Toof is ruining the family. It appears that Gumper is desperate to satisfy his father’s needs and requests to he goes through the aversion therapy and promises that he’ll manage the business when he dies. After this time, Africa is irate as she no longer recognises her family. At the finale, the cracks are beginning to arise with Toof’s and First Lady’s marriage as they are quarrelling about how Toof doesn’t appreciate her whatsoever. Gardley’s narrative is meritorious as this contemporary altered copy does work wonders as today’s religion has endeavoured to push people into scenarios that people don’t want to be in, plus how the characters interconnect with one another i.e. in the church congregation environment. 

One found the performances by the company of, ‘A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes’ to be exceedingly excellent as the gospel elements in the play were vastly joyous and the camaraderie between the company was visible to see at all times. Lucian Msamati is terrific as Apostle Toof; especially how his constant snooping into the Organdy family results in them fighting amongst themselves shows how ministers can over step their welcome and how his methods are seriously outdated i.e. aversion therapy for Gumper. Sharon D. Clarke is first-class as Toof’s afflicted wife, Lady Loretta; chiefly where you can see how apprehensive she is by what her husband could be doing, furthermore, as you’d expect from Clarke her vocal abilities are second to none and highly infectious as her voice is simply dreamy. Will Johnson is brilliant as soon to be deceased tycoon, Organdy; specifically how startling it is to realise to he’ll shun his son due to his sexuality and if he doesn’t go through the therapy that he’ll be dead to him  and this makes you question does he love his children or not and if not why?

Indhu Rabasingham’s direction is dynamite here as she has captured how devout Christian communities will come together with enthralling music that makes you want to join them in a dance, as well as, the characterisations of buffoon Toof and Organdy are phenomenally out of date with their views. Tom Piper’s set design is bravura as the transitions from church office to Orandy’s home was tremendously well stylised and worked, in addition to this, the scenic elements e.g. scenic art and construction was grand and not ostentatious at all. Overall, the experience of, ‘A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes’ was a marvellous performance and enjoyable throughout.