by Laura Kressly

Immensely intelligent Jerome has always struggled to find his place in the world. He was too poor to go to private school like his best friend Henry, but at secondary school he got bullied for sounding white and talking posh. This coming-of-age monologue navigates growing up when you don’t quite fit in on the estate in Harlesden, at the shop where you work, or at the competitive uni out of town.

Writer/performer Gerel Falconer uses rap to tell Jerome’s story, with occasional short sections of narrated speech serving as a transition from one scene to another. This isn’t a gratuitous choice; Jerome is a rapper and rap battles are points of conflict with his adversaries. The most resonant is at the start of the show’s climax, and the impact it has on Jerome is profound. Unexpected plot points keep things interesting – again, particularly towards the end – especially given the little variation in chosen form and style. Falconer has a great understanding of how to develop tension though, and his title of ‘rapaturg’ is well-deserved.

It’s not clear how this is an opera, however – it’s not completely sung through, and the musical changes are far more subtle than those in operas. The single performer is also a far cry from opera’s typically vast ensemble, and the half-mask that Falconer wears doesn’t relate to the story. The story has to do a lot of work to keep the audience’s attention and though it’s well structured, musical variation and design would go a long way in making this show feel more developed.

Tones: a hip-hop opera runs through 28 August.

The Play’s the Thing UK is committed to covering fringe and progressive theatre in London and beyond. It is run entirely voluntarily and needs regular support to ensure its survival. For more information and to help The Play’s the Thing UK provide coverage of the theatre that needs reviews the most, visit its patreon.