Intimate Apparel
Brit director Lynette Linton and US playwright Lynn Nottage have a very special relationship with the Donmar Warehouse. Back under Josie Rourke, the Donmar hosted the Linton-directed UK premiere of Nottage’s monumental working class tragedy Sweat; under the recently departed Michael Longhurst, Linton directed the excellent sort of sequel Clyde’s; now she makers it three for three as she directs Nottage’s 2003 class Intimate Apparel. The 1905 NYC-set drama isn’t connected to the other plays and has been seen in London before. Nonetheless, what a treat to have Lynton take a crack at it, in a luxury production that sees US star Samira Wiley play Esther, a Black seamstress reknowned for her skill and discretion in creating intimate apparel. Her dream is to find the right man and open a beauty parlour for Black women with her savings; but the man part is easier said than done.Â