A moving character study on the futility of invidualism
Enough is suffocating in it’s portrayal of the battle of individuals against a system. We first are greeted by the friendly chatter of two policemen on their tea break (Emily Hunter and Gemma Green) before the new constable Irie (Riah Amelle) arrives. As a black woman she joins the police because she can make a difference in an organisation she believes is flawed, and overlooks ‘her people’ as one of her colleagues regularly remarks to her. Through the slow tread of belittling, excessive force, disregard for protocol, and a colleague who refuses to make a stand, slowly crush Irie’s naivety until it’s remains litter the stage floor.
The plot itself is predictable but this does serve to further the hopelessness of Irie’s crusade. From her first call out to a regular domestic abuser who is routinely released, the initial shock from Irie is one we become familiar with. As cases unwind on stage from a drugs raid, to a demeaning interview with a sexual assault victim, Irie’s shock turns to bargaining, and then to numbness as she accepts her place. ENOUGH. does well in treating the role as a character drama, allowing us to see how personality and rugged individualism is shattered by a careless organisation and the ones it gives power to.
All of our characters are played superbly. Gemma’s role as the most senior allows her to strut around, put an army around the new officers shoulder while always having an ulterior motive. We understand how Toni made it to the top, and damn her for it. Christine manages to perfectly pass off as someone who just wants to make it through the day, who doesn’t pick sides, and we damn her for it. Irie is naive, well meaning and lovable. We want her to succeed, to make a difference, but she never was and we damn her for it. The casting choice in itself is interesting as women play the two more senior policemen who are men in the story, and this is used to great effect in the final scene. A moving character study, which doesn’t say anything new but does say it well.
ENOUGH. is availible for one last night on friday 8th of August at theSpace on the mile.