An exploration of race and society in 1950s and present day Chicago offers plenty to think – and, surprisingly, laugh – about in Clybourne Park at the Oxford Playhouse, writes Tim Hughes

IT'S the 1950s in Chicago, a period many see as a heyday – but cracks are already showing in the thin veneer of the American Dream.

A regular, hard-working couple Russ (a fabulously surly Mark Womack) and Bev (a nervously garrulous Rebecca Manley) are packing up their belongings as they prepare to move home.

The couple are mourning the death of their son, a Korean war veteran who killed himself in the house.

Unknown to them, their house in the desirable, respectable – and, crucially, white – suburb of Clybourne Park has been bought by a "coloured" family. The news sparks panic among the community, and one of Russ's friends from the Rotary Club is dispatched to try and convince him to block the sale, to avoid what he fears will spark white flight and plummeting property prices.

While this goes on, the couple's domestic maid Francine (Gloria Onitiri) is "fixing to leave" with her husband Albert (Wole Sawyerr).

What ensues is a dramatic, heart-wrenching and uncomfortably funny exploration of views on race, manners, society and grief – all played out through the story of that single house.

It is acutely well observed in costume, language and mannerisms – particularly those of the endearingly polite black couple and the wrong-headed but likeable clergyman Jim (William Troughton – Tom Archer in the Archers and son of vintage Doctor Who star Patrick), meddling Rotarian Karl (Ben Derry) and his deaf wife Betsy (brilliantly and sensitively played by Rebecca Oldfield - who I suspected was actually deaf, until she emerged later in another role).

It descends into farce as the vicar, already subjected to a barrage of profanity, is pushed over by Russ - but still the pathos of the situation shines through.

The second half sees the action brought to the present day, with Clybourne Park now a solidly black neighbourhood, desirable to a new generation of white families because of its low prices, character and proximity to the city centre. The cast are back – though in different roles - Onitiri as a relative of the black couple who bought that house back in 1959, and railing against plans by white couple Steve and Lindsey (Deery and Oldfield again) to extend it.

Here the accusation of racism is levelled at the representatives of the black community, which does not go down well at all –cue more swearing and fighting and some appallingly offensive jokes.

Throughout, it remains funny and bitingly clever – the two halves of the play echoing and resonating, raising uncomfortable questions of those same deep issues.

A thought-provoking and hugely enjoyable triumph.

Clybourne Park continues at the Oxford Playhouse until Saturday

5/5