Sidi, the village beauty, seems destined to be the bride of Lakunie, the local teacher who has embraced western ways. But when a passing photographer puts her picture in a magazine, she realises the power of her beauty, and attracts the attention of the elderly tribal chief, Baroka, known as the Lion, who wants to add her to his collection of wives.
Part of the Young Genius season, Wole Soyinka's play, written when he was 23, is a rollicking account of African village life that pits tradition against western values, Africa against Europe, the power of men against that of women. It is a lively piece full of sly wit and ribald jokes, but like Sidi herself, Chuck Mike's production is lamb dressed as steak.
Soyinka's play has strong pantomime elements particularly in its enactment of stories within the main story, which are choreographed by Koffi Koko with sinuous beauty and gleeful energy. These interludes capture the complex relationships of village life, shifting like the ruddy sands of Atlanta Duffy's simple and highly effective circular design.
But the Lion and the Jewel is not just a panto. At its dark heart is the rape of a woman, an act that ironically takes place at a moment when the village women are celebrating their triumph over men. Mike's production largely ignores this and also the tensions between tradition and progress, offering up instead a raucous African song and dance spectacular. It doesn't help that some of the storytelling and vocal projections are less than clear. This is an enjoyable show, but it misses the genius of Soyinka's play.
· Until October 8. Box office: 0845 120 7511. Then touring.
