Last Day in London

After attending our final theatrical performance: "The Gift," by Dave Florez, performed at the Park Theater in north London, we spent our last day touring the iconic Tower Bridge and cruising along the Thames River from Tower Pier to Westminster.     

Student Impressions of the play "The Lonely Londoners," based upon a novel by Sam Selvon, adapted for the stage by Roy Williams: 

The Lonely Londoners tackles themes of displacement, identity and survival. These are projected throughout the play as shown in Moses’ flashbacks, showing that while being in a new country, Moses still misses Trinidad. Another major example is the racism that the characters face, shown when Galahad is rejected from multiple jobs simply because of his race. These factors drives the narrative of the story.

-- by Tim McCrory

The main theme I think is finding a sense of belonging and immigration. There are also themes of anger, racism, and feeling alienated from the world. The sense of belonging is a major theme because the group of people want to make a new life for themselves, but they are having a very rough time…They all start to doubt coming to London, feel like they don’t belong anywhere, but at the end of the play the four men are all there for each other. They show themselves picking each other up, carrying them on their backs, and having the same things done to them. No matter what has happened they all come together at the end and are there for one another and don’t leave anyone behind.

-- by Cory Johnson

The play’s tone oscillates between humor and despair as it portrays the resilience, camaraderie, and small joys the immigrants find amidst adversity. The play delves into the systemic racism faced by West Indian immigrants, exposing the harsh realities of London in the 1950s. Characters experience prejudice in housing, employment, and daily interactions. Despite the promise of opportunity, they are constantly reminded of their "outsider" status. This theme highlights the persistence of colonial attitudes in a supposed "motherland." For the immigrants, London is both a place of hope and alienation. They struggle to reconcile their memories of the Caribbean with their new reality in a cold, unwelcoming city. The notion of "home" becomes fractured, as they are torn between nostalgia for the warmth of the islands and the necessity of forging a new identity in London. The play explores romantic and platonic relationships, often shaped by the hardships of immigrant life. For some characters, love offers solace and connection, while for others, it highlights their vulnerability and loneliness.

-- by Lua Amanat