By IPS Correspondents
LONDON, Apr 9 1996 (IPS)

Racism, promiscuity and random violence are among themes tackled by 22-year-old David Eldridge’s new play ‘Serving It Up’ shown at London’s Bush Theatre.

The play focuses on the sad futile life of Sonny, a young unemployed working class boy whose world gradually collapses around him when he discovers his mother’s affair with his best friend.

It takes a clear and unblinking look at fascism in an East End where jobs are rare and xenophobia and a me-first philosophy are fostered by both the tabloid press and unthinking politicians who encourage it for political capital.

The play has been a run-away success for the theatre. It is seen as part of a new wave on the London stage at the moment — plays produced by writers still in their twenties who appear to be heavily influenced by popular culture.

These plays are different from the relatively “safe” middle class fare which has dominated London stages for more than a decade now.

Many of the plays and writers have very little in common except the sense of nihilism which permeates their work. One of the most notorious plays to come from this group is Sarah Kane’s ‘Blasted’ which premiered last year at The Royal Court Theatre.

‘Blasted’ included depictions of rape, cannibalism and torture while a war raged on the street outside. Critical reaction to ‘Blasted’ was so heated the BBC current affairs programme Newsnight devoted almost an entire edition to a discussion on merits of the play.

Many critics expressed their shock that a play which depicted violence on this scale could have been written by a woman.

‘Serving It Up’ has little of the over violence of ‘Blasted’. Eldridge seems more content to let the emotions underneath the surface, to erupt only occasionally.

In one of the most harrowing scenes, Sonny rejects the girl he loves and goes out drinking. He slashes the face of a guy he happens to run into for no apparent reason other than the fact that he has nothing better to do. Such scenes leave a haunting impression on the viewer.

‘Serving It Up’ is Eldridge’s first play. It was sent to The Bush unsolicited. The play is largely based on Eldridge’s own experiences working as a teenager in Romford’s open air market where he listened and observed the lives of the people who lived and worked there.

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