but i cd only whisper, Arcola Theatre, review Kristiana Colón's new play focuses on a young black American who has signed up to fight in Vietnam. Beau Willie Brown, played by the excellent Adetomiwa Edun, is a troubled young man, suffering from a host of mental-health issues, including post-traumatic stress brought on by the war. Colón's is clearly an individual, interesting voice. There are some pertinent, difficult subjects addressed without fear or timidity. She portrays a man shaped by his circumstances, who is offered no help along his road to a terrible crime. But on the whole, the play suffers from a lack of focus. Beau's crime is a result of a life plagued by neglect, frustration, ignorance, poverty and discrimination. He is in no way innocent of the crimes he commits throughout his story, but neither is he the only guilty party. Instead, Colón calls to account American society at the time. There are several moments which successfully highlight the hypocrisy rife in society, not least when Beau's psychologist (played by Cornell S John) sits in front of a panel of people who ask about the verdict on his patient's mental health. As he sits there, alone on stage, speaking his halting, interrupted side of the conversation - we neither see nor hear the panel - it is made crystal-clear how uninterested they are in the truth of Beau's story. All they want is a speedy conclusion and the least disruptive headlines. Aside from moments like this, the story jumps and jerks around Beau's life in flashbacks and monologues. It distracts from the main thrust of the story and means there's a woeful lack of character development. Frustratingly, we never really feel sympathy for any of them. The staging doesn't help. Beau and his psychologist are perched on a small raised platform which restricts their movements and leaves largely wasted space at the front. Colón is a writer to watch, but this show fails to engage. Tickets: 020 7503 1646; www.arcolatheatre.com