From
11 JOSEPHINE HOUSE
By Alfred Fagon
11 Josephine House was first produced by Inter-Action at the Almost Free Theatre in London on 22 November 1972, directed by Ronald Rees, with the following cast: Oscar James (George), Alfred Fagon (Castan), T-bone Wilson (David), Mona Hammond (Gloria), Horace James (Harry) and Ursula Mohan (Julie).
11 Josephine House is a kitchen sink drama, packed with comedy moments. The play explores the importance of Christianity in a Jamaican household, set in Bristol in 1971. Alfred Fagon creates a dysfunctional household which is controlled by Brother George, a deacon and old friend of the family, who uses his relationship with God to chastise the ‘sinners’ in the house who have a weakness for gambling, alcohol, sex and music. Brother George is highly respected by the family due to his thirty years of unyielding commitment to God, compared to the other members in the family who fail to commit to God for longer than a month. David returns to the family home with his white girlfriend Julie, after failing to make a successful singer career in London. Julie struggles to understand the family dynamic, especially their high regard for Brother George. But when she sets up a trap that leaves Brother George caught with his pants down, the family household is turned upside down, with George’s reputation and position in the family destroyed.
About the Playwright
Alfred Fagon was born in Clarendon, Jamaica on 24 June 1937. Fagon came to Britain in 1955. His first job was for British Rail in Nottingham. Fagon turned his hand to many different jobs before relocating to Bristol to pursue a career in writing and acting.
Alfred Fagon became one of the most notable Black British playwrights of the 1970s and 1980s. At the peak of his writing career, Fagon died from a fatal heart attack in 1986 at age 49. The Alfred Fagon Award was set up in his memory in 1996 to celebrate the work of black playwrights of African and Caribbean descent in the UK. The award is supported by the Peggy Ramsay Foundation, Talawa Theatre Company and the Royal Court Theatre. To celebrate his work and residency in Bristol a statue of Alfred Fagon was built in his honour.
Other published plays by Alfred Fagon include: 11 Josephine House, Death of a Black Man and Lonely Cowboy.
Summary (Extract)
GEORGE, a deacon aged 39–40 (described in the cast breakdown as 5’ 10” inches or over), walks in on Gloria, Harry and Castan drinking alcohol and dancing in the living room. His love interest, Gloria dances closely with Castan, who he believes has always wanted to have intercourse with her. Horrified by this scene of blasphemy, he acts out in anger by slapping Gloria and punching Castan. Stricken with guilt he decides to redeem himself, and redress the balance in the home, by confessing to a sinful act which led him closer to God.
Forgive me, Jesus, yes the devil have been testing out faith but we must not weaken. Yes the last months have been great trials for all of us. First David went away, then Sister Gloria start having headache, and although I’m about to take over my new church and I am a man of God, Lord forgive us all for tonight. Here we are, black men all the way from Jamaica fighting each other. I wonder if the cross I have to carry will give message from God. It is many years now since the Lord call me to the cross and I kneel at the altar and He send me out to save sinners. Yes Lord, that was a glorious day, the most perfect day of my whole life. I can remember it as if it was today. It was many years ago. My poor father had ten shillings to feed us and he had not another penny in the world. Mother was very ill. He did not know where he was going to get the next penny from. Yes, I was a wicked sinner until then. I took the 10 shilling, forgive me Jesus; and went gambling. Jesus I remember when I lost the last sixpence and I look up to the heavens and I was not thinking about the beating my father was going to give me. But yes Lord, I was only thinking of my poor sick mother. Yes, hallelujah, and I could feel a change coming over me. Suddenly the tears start coming down my eyes and I was crying to the heavens, and I could feel as if a voice was saying to me ‘Don’t cry,’ and suddenly flashes went across my face, lightning and thunder start striking in front of my eyes, and I was blinded, and then a voice said to me, it was so gentle and sweet (He starts crying.) and then the voice said to me, ‘Don’t be afraid, lamb of God, you are strong now, you have come to God,’ and it was like the voice was far, far away and yet so very close, and the angel said to me, ‘Your sins have been forgiven’ and then the voice said, Your road will be heavy and long, but you must go out and preach the word of the Lord to the rich and the poor. Your place will be at God’s side in heaven.’ The voice said, ‘Arise’ and I arise. I went home to Mother. I went straight in her room. There was two people with her. She looked peaceful laying on her bed. And then she said, ‘Son, I forgive you. Yes I know the Lord would call you one day. Yes only last night I had a dream and I know then. Son, the road will be hard, there will be lots of trials. May the Lord bless you, my son.’ She close her eyes. She never open them again. I left the house that day with the guardian angel. That guardian angel is still with me, and now I shall pray very hard tonight. I am sorry I hit you, Brother Castan. Harry, please let us be friends again.