Few actors perform second-to-none in acting, especially in stage plays. One of them is the young, promising talent Destiny Osagiede, an actor whose works have risen through the creative ladder of exceptional acting.
His performance in Laroche, a stage production which I saw in October last year, is a testament to his talent and dedication to sharpening his craft.
The Birmingham-based actor has an extensive resume in screen and stage roles. His most notable roles are in the 2019 feature The Lost Okoroshi and the 2021 series Blood of Enogie. In the latter case, he won an Edisa Award for playing Prince Adewale. Recently, Destiny starred as the lead in the Nigerian-produced film Fading Echoes, which was released this past summer at the 2024 RTF Festival at Worcester.
The stage production, which was shown at the Black Box theatre in Birmingham, chronicles the only black passenger on RMS Titanic, Joseph Laroche. Written and directed by Dr Carlette L Norwood, with Ryan J as the Stage Manager, it starred Osagiede alongside Christina Appana, Torian Williams, Jack Loy, Allison Weir, Kerry Frater, Oscar Mackie, and Jack Phillips.
If you hear about Titanic, you likely picture the 1997 romantic movie adaptation starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet, but Laroche, aimed to change the common thought by delivering this unique story, helmed by Osagiede through his thorough commitment to his craft.
In Laroche, Osagiede carries a hefty task of bringing to life a story unfamiliar to general audiences, yet, he embodies Laroche with poise, gracefully making his performance feel natural in the over-a-century-old era. Moreover, his performance brims with the emotional turmoil that can make audiences, regardless of differing ethnicity, empathise with Laroche’s short and turbulent life.
Told through stages of Joseph Laroche’s life, from him moving from his home in Haiti to France for education to encountering racial discrimination at every turn as he strives to find a career. Life seems brighter when he encounters his future wife, Juliette Lafargue, a white woman and their love shows perseverance against the attitudes of the time.
While the production is stacked with heart-wrenching scenes of prejudice against Laroche, his romance with Juliette is a source of joy and sweetness for the audience. This is helped by the loving chemistry between Destiny shares with Christina Appana (who plays Juliette), offering a glimpse into the complexities of interracial relationships from a hundred years ago. Christina is equally sincere and immersive in her performance, representing genuineness in Laroche’s troubles and she stands shoulder to shoulder with Destiny as an acting presence.
While Destiny’s performance as Joseph Laroche was stellar, some areas of the show could have played out even better. While there were some minor flaws in the scene changes, with some extra delays in scene transitions, still they did not detract from the overall impact of the performance; his interactions with other characters were fluid, besides, his Nigerian accent was pronounced. Although it did not override his infusion of French phrases and words in between the dialogue, it stood out, particularly in scenes with Christina, whose French accent was flawless. If he had possibly used more French language in his conversations with Christina or Kerry Frater, who plays Laroche’s father-in-law, Pascal Lafargue, the audience could have been more drawn in.
The highlight of the production was the transition from Laroche’s personal life to the scenes on the Titanic, showcasing the actor’s impressive character range and emotional depth. This was in aid of the splendid costumes, set, and scene construction. Not only do they immerse audiences in the time era with the utmost authenticity, but the stage crew also made great use of the Black Box’s limited space; one such instance particularly stood out to me. Stage manager Ryan J utilized the white-coated railings to represent the deck of the Titanic, decorated only with two prop lifebuoys. Never at any point did this distract from the devastating final from Destiny, who delivers the most outstanding acting piece of his blossoming career.
As the ship and he meet their watery demises, Destiny’s slow ascension to the dying bellows of this story’s doomed hero echo, Laroche as a production is bound to leave a lasting impression. Without an iota of doubt, I believe that with continued refinement and attention to detail, Destiny is sure to become a leading figure in the world of stage acting, and I look forward to seeing that happen.
