Quaz Degraft's solo show, In the Black, returning to the Edinburgh Fringe after a well-received run last year, offers a deeply rewarding drama about the moral compromises inherent in big business. Drawing on Degraft's own background in high finance, the play follows Kofi Grady, a first-generation Ghanaian American graduate who lands a job at a trillion-dollar financial company, only to find himself entangled in a cover-up of sexual assault.
A Story of Ambition and Complicity
Kofi Grady, raised by a disciplinarian father who equates success with job security, is driven by a craving for the comfort and control he briefly tasted as a teenage joyrider in a high-performance car. His mathematical skills earn him a place in the corporate world, where he quickly learns the unwritten rules: put in the hours, say the right things, and keep quiet about abuses to secure bonuses.
The play, performed at Underbelly, Bristo Square, is a sweetly told piece of storytelling, featuring a rollcall of colleagues, friends, and double dates. Degraft, who left finance to become a performer, instead of ending up in an orange jumpsuit like his character, paints an insider's picture of a culture where profit and personal success override all else.
A #MeToo Narrative from a Male Perspective
Above all, In the Black is a #MeToo play told from the male perspective. Kofi is not directly responsible for the assault of a female worker but is complicit in its cover-up, choosing silence over confrontation and private gain over honorable whistleblowing. This complicity, Degraft suggests, reveals the insidious nature of male power in corporate settings.
The insight may not be new, but in Abigail Onwunali's stripped-down production, it is subtly executed. Degraft's performance makes the story seem like an everyday tale of a young man innocently settling into a new job, belying a deeper purpose: to expose how systemic complicity perpetuates harm.
Critical Reception and Availability
The production runs at Underbelly, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, until 31 August. Critics have praised Degraft's nuanced storytelling and the play's relevance in the current cultural climate. As one reviewer noted, "Degraft makes it seem like an everyday tale of a young man innocently trying to settle into a new job belies his deeper purpose: to reveal the insidious nature of male power."
With its blend of personal narrative and sharp social commentary, In the Black stands out as a must-see at this year's festival, offering audiences a thought-provoking exploration of ambition, ethics, and the cost of success.
