A hilarious and poetic coming-of-age story about a natural-born trouble maker, and his relationship with his father. The story follows Inua’s real life journey from his birth place in Nigeria to the culture-shock of England, charting his trials, tribulations and mischief-making along the way. Using playful rhymes, Inua weaves vivid and endearing characters, while at the same time challenging expectations of what it is to be a young black male in the UK today. (Review by Fuel)
In 'The 14th Tale', Inua vividly describes the exploits of a natural-born mischief maker growing up from clay streets in Nigeria to roof tops in Dublin and finally, to heartbreak in London. " A sharp reminder of the power of language and rhythm" --The Scotsman "original, experimental, beautiful" --Culture Wars.
....... The 14th Tale.....relates the experiences of performance poet, Inua Ellams, a Nigerian expatriate, who spent many of his formative years in London and Ireland – the only black child at his Dublin school. Ellams tackles his subjects with such verve and intensity that his one-man play sounds very much like the definitive take on the issues he addresses.
New life is breathed into discussions of cultural identity, masculinity and mortality, largely by virtue of the narrator's boundless energy and eye for detail. Much of The 14th Tale is purported to be autobiographical; the reality of this claim hardly matters. Ellams proves to be a master storyteller, his lyrical prose, assured changes of tone and bodily contortions, vividly bringing his material to life. Although essentially a practical joke-playing jerk, the young protagonist is rendered a sympathetic figure by the wisened narrator, adequately conveying the euphoric sense of wonder that surrounds youth and first experiences.
One in "a long line of trouble makers," Ellams' recollections are anchored by a 'present' which sees him distraught in a hospital waiting room, his father having suffered a stroke. Towards the play's genuinely affecting conclusion, indelible ties are shown between the performer and his ancestry, reminding audiences of the storytelling tradition of which he is a part.
Verdict: Suitable for study at Junior Level
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