The music is wonderfully eclectic, embracing a Jewish vibe as well as both Irish folk melody (hard to resist singing along to ‘The Rocky Road to Dublin’) and a terrific ongoing rap from Ginsberg’s Sammy. The versatile cast are accomplished singers too; Sophia Ragavelas’ Edie may depend on her son Ron, but her glorious singing voice belies her fragility. There is plenty of humour too, particularly in a rollicking number sung and danced by rival newspaper vendors touting The Times, Daily Mail, Socialist Worker and, of course, Jewish Chronicle.
Cable Street is a show that is all too timely, given the rise of antisemitism on our streets since the horrors of 7 October last year, but given that it vividly charts folk from different communities coming together to face down a potent threat so successfully, it’s also uplifting, defiant, optimistic and hugely entertaining.
By Judi Herman
Photos by Jane Hobson
Cable Street runs until Saturday 16 March. 7.30pm, 3pm (Tues & Sat only). £35, £28 concs. The Large, Southwark Playhouse, London, SE1 6BD. southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
