Canadian playwright Marcia Johnson’s play Serving Elizabeth has made its way to Victoria’s Belfry Theatre. People may be drawn to seeing this play because Johnson was originally inspired by the popular Netflix series The Crown, in particular, an episode set in Kenya. Johnson had, apparently, seen the episode and believed that the depiction of the events in the episode was lacking something important: the feelings harboured by the citizens.
The plot has two stories that interweave with surprising details, one of them taking place in 1952 in Kenya, where a restaurant owner, Mercy (played by Lucinda Davis) is approached to cook a meal for royalty. Mercy is a dedicated anti-monarchist and feels it would go against everything she stands for to take the job. Mercy’s daughter, Faith (played by Sia Foryoh) sees the position as an opportunity. The other plot is set in London, 2015, where struggling writer Tia (also played by Foryoh) is trying to make her way in the world, and is writing for a TV series based on the British monarchy.
The set, designed by Camellia Koo, is one of the more beautiful I’ve seen at the Belfry—it breathes warm, earthy colours and involves impressive lighting techniques that really make the storyline shine. The costumes, designed by Vanessa Magic, are equally impressive, whether the characters are in Kenya or in London.
The Belfry chose well for its first show after the COVID-19 shutdown, and they also were sure to be careful—the programs are only online, and the physical distancing was evident.
Anyone wanting an evening out would do well to see Serving Elizabeth. It will make you smile and invite you to check out every angle of a story, fiction or not.
Serving Elizabeth
Various days and times, until Sunday, December 19
“Pay What You Want” tickets
belfry.bc.ca