Why was he stopped?  Who was following whom?  Did Sully not notice the victim was wearing camouflage trousers indicating his military history?  The interview gets more and more tense with Sully repeatedly coming back to memories of his time with LaRhonda and her husband to try to defuse his guilt and earn leniency.  Parker however has a damning photograph of Sully in civilian clothes which requires explanation.  Sully too has a revelation. 

Blue  is very finely written and I liked Michael Matthews’ direction of what could have been a static interview with two sitting opposite each other, especially with the audience on four sides.  There are of course questions about why Parker did not immediately withdraw from the interview when she realised Sully was her husband’s partner and a friend.  We are left to guess at Bennie’s racial heritage.

Parker too will lose her cool professionalism as details emerge about Sully’s behaviour in pursuing Mason.  It is no accident that Blue won a Fringe First in Edinburgh as the writing and actors are totally credible.

The killing of George Floyd alerted the world to “Black Lives Matter” and Sully raises what he believes in as a policeman and the issue of “Blue Lives Matter” too.  The end of the play is a chilling list of those killed recently by policemen in America and an endictment of the loss of public confidence in the police acting in the public’s best interests.

Blue is a timely play and despite the smaller numbers who die at the hands of the police in Britain, one which also has relevance here.  When West End theatres are charging prices in the high two hundreds you can see this play at Seven Dials Playhouse for between £10 and £25.  So go for an evening of meaningful drama!