The Hot Wing King
20 July 2024
National Theatre
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
Recently, I’ve been seeing many amazing plays in London, and this one is no different. The Hot Wing King, currently running at the National Theatre until 14 September is an absolutely fantastic, life affirming, beautiful story brought to the stage.
Set in a large kitchen somewhere in Memphis, Tennessee, Cordell and his friends are preparing for the annual hot wing contest. For years, the New Wing Order, as they call themselves, have been trying to conquer the contest, and this year they are convinced their new recipe will wow the judges and win them the crown. As Cordell, Isom, and Big Charles gear up to simmer the marinade and prepare their ingredients, Crodell’s partner Dwayne struggles with unexpected family emergencies and the situation intensifies quickly. Emotional ties are examined and loyalties tested as the heat turns up in this slice of life story.
The beautiful set works incredibly well in keeping everything tied together, with a large kitchen as the focal point of most of the action, and chicken wings happily sizzling away while the men struggle with their own concerns and interwoven problems. The Hot Wing King is deeply emotional, while also providing plenty of humour and food for soul and thought. The wonderfully rounded and grounded characters each get to examine their own emotional lives, bouncing off each other at times with aggression and desperation, at times with joy and support. It is so refreshing to see a story in which men get to fully feel their emotions and support each other with genuine friendship. Interspersed with many funny scenes, this show is a delight to watch and connect with.
