INCLUDES SPOILERS
The story of a 74
year old Barry who has spent almost all his adult life in London and
even longer in a covert sexual relationship with Morris brings
together a number of rich and interesting themes.
As with Hide by
Matthew Griffin the (homo) sexuality of an older generation is
explored – doing this alongside the dynamics of the Caribbean
community in London adds to the complexities.
That Barry and
Morris were both married doesn’t seem to have hampered their
ongoing relationship, but Barry’s marriage to Carmel has become a
cage trapping the pair of them.
We perhaps have to
wrestle with the tension of how “guilty” we should see Barry for
60 years of unfaithful marriage – what choices did he have as a Gay
Antiguan in the early 60s? But there are clear suggestions that he
allowed the situation to continue because it suited him just fine to
have a wife and a lover.
Although Barry has
decided to come out and leave Carmel during a time when she is back
in Antigua, I am not convinced he would actually of done it, and
Evaristo places the initiative into Carmel’s hands she learns the
truth while in Antigua and comes “home” to London and takes
control of the situation. While this is empowerment of her is a
positive dynamic, avoiding her remaining a victim, for me it denies
Barry of redemption – he never actually puts right the situation,
it is put right for him – he is found out rather than coming out.
But it is a tale
filled with great characters, told with pace and conviction, highly
enjoyable.
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