G

Gothic dread meets goofy comedy in a thrilling coming-of-age story. This is a complicated, ambitious and thrilling ride of a play . . . a diamond discovery.

Striking urban gothic from a rising star . . . a thrillingly different play. It’s Kusoro’s business what she does next, but if she wants to return to this haunted world, I’m all for it.

With enormous vigour and intelligence, Kusoro evokes not only the daily lives of the boys, but also the mythical galaxies swirling around their imaginations. At the same time, she offers a satirical picture of the surveillance state, the racism of the news media and a sympathetic account of black teen reality . . . The atmosphere and rich metaphors, the sense of ghosts and gothic chills, of ambiguity and uncertainty, have a real impact which announces the arrival of a fine new writer.

G thrills in all the right ways. Tife Kusoro’s writing is deceptively simple: on one hand, this is a classic comic supernatural thriller with quippy, honest dialogue. On the other it’s a social commentary on racial injustice and personal identity with moments of sobering, singing prose. Kusoro deftly cradles both simultaneously.

A wild blend of classic horror, urban folklore, surrealism, social injustice and to top it off, it might be the most exciting new play I have seen in a long time.

Kusoro infuses her work with surrealism and harsh socio-political critique, pure banter and sheer terror. It’s young and fresh and ingenuously subversive. It’s a comic thriller, but also an unsettling allegory and a story about the power of friendship and loyalty.