Review: Klook’s Last Stand at the Park Theatre

Klook’s Last Stand 

Park Theatre (Park90)

Reviewed on Friday 13th June 2014

Staged inside Park90, Ché Walker’s musical Klook’s Last Stand offers the audience an intimate look into the lives of two ordinary people living in Stockton, California. The production revolves around the lives of Klook (Ako Mitchell) and Vinette (Sheila Atim).

The story of the pair begins in the present day, with the flashing red and blue of the police lighting up the whole space and Klook standing alone, reminiscing about his past. We are then transported back to when he first meets Vinette in a bar and charms her, buying her a glass of carrot juice with a hint of ginger. 

Separately the pair feel lost; however, when they’re brought together they come to rely heavily on each other, find happiness and eventually fall in love – with the belief that it is them against the world. Emotionally they strip themselves bare and allow the other to discover things about them they have kept hidden from the rest of the world. 

The simple set consisting of two white bar chairs enables the audience to remain solely focused on the action unfolding in front of them. The two actors are joined on stage by musician Rio Kai who performs music by composers Anoushka Lucas and Omar Lyefook with lyrics by Walker and Lucas. 

Although there are some very funny comedic and light-hearted moments in the production, the final 30 minutes are extremely dramatic and intense. It feels as if too much drama is packed into too short a space of time. The projection of some lyrics and lines of text was sometimes distracting and could be axed as it added nothing to the play. 

The characters’ utter dependence on each other was evident throughout, although I wonder whether the musical interludes actually distracted from the piece. Klook’s Last Stand tells an extremely touching story.

Reviewed by Laura Kate Jones

Klook’s Last Stand runs at the Park Theatre until Sunday 6th July 2014.
Please visit www.parktheatre.co.uk for further information and tickets.

Photo Credit: Arnim Friess

Follow @West_End_Frame