Winsome Pinnock's new play, "The Authenticator," is currently running at London's Dorfman Theatre until May 9, offering a nuanced exploration of the legacies of enslavement and erased Black histories. Directed by Miranda Cromwell, the production employs humor and satire to navigate its complex subject matter.

The drama centers on two Black academics, Abi (Rakie Ayola) and Marva (Cherrelle Skeete), who are tasked with authenticating a collection of 18th-century diaries. These journals, discovered by Fen (Sylvestra Le Touzel), document life on a Jamaican plantation operated by enslaved people and were written by Fen's ancestor, Henry Harford. Fen, a direct descendant of Harford and manager of his ancestral country estate, claims Harford showed signs of being an abolitionist, though the academics' investigation uncovers evidence suggesting his brutality.

Pinnock's narrative delves into intersections of class and race through its characters. Abi is depicted as Oxford-educated with a privileged background of Nigerian descent, whose family history carries its own connections to the slave trade. Marva, her mentee, is a young working-class woman whose family history, specifically her grandfather's mysterious disappearance, becomes intertwined with the Harford lineage. These personal connections contribute to a series of plot twists and revelations in the play.

The production incorporates elements of a haunted house drama, enhanced by Jon Bausor's traverse set, dimmed lighting, and unsettling string music. Much of the play's comedic tone stems from its satirical portrayal of Fen, presented as a "do-gooder" type who expresses a desire to atone for her family's past but frequently seeks to absolve herself of responsibility. The humor also extends to the aristocracy's commodification of their historic homes, with the estate even featuring a fabricated resident ghost for visitor tours.

Beneath the humor, the play addresses deeper historical "hauntings," such as a hidden "blackamoor statue" reflecting contemporary debates on colonial heritage, influenced by events like George Floyd’s murder. Missing pages from the diaries hint at violence against an enslaved woman known as "Black Sarah." As the narrative progresses, the play’s tone shifts, with the humor receding to allow for a more direct engagement with the guilt, shame, and unaddressed pain stemming from these historical injustices.

"The Authenticator" is presented as a thought-provoking work that uses an engaging narrative and sharp dialogue to address significant contemporary questions surrounding the investigation of historical truths, confronting problematic legacies, and the process of atonement or apology.