The Emperor’s Last Performance
The story in a nutshell, (quoting the press release): “Charles Sidney Gilpin (1878-1930) was one of the earliest African American stars on the Broadway stage. Although he starred on Broadway as early as 1907, his breakthrough role was as Rev. William Curtis in ‘Abraham Lincoln’ in 1919. This led to Eugene O’Neill casting Gilpin as Brutus Jones in ‘The Emperor Jones’ in 1920, the role which made Gilpin an international star. Gilpin also starred in two Broadway revivals later in the decade. But Gilpin ran afoul of playwright O’Neill when Gilpin protested O’Neil’s liberal use of the ‘N word’ in the script. O’Neil subsequently gave the role to rising star Paul Robeson to perform on Broadway and in London. Gilpin’s alcoholism led to other professional difficulties.” This accurately conveys what happens in the play.
Playwright, Melvin Ishmael Johnson developed this project in the Robey Theatre Company’s Playwrights Program, a company founded by Danny Glover and Ben Guillory in 1996 to produce collaborative efforts focused on the Black Experience and committed to exploring it’s rich culture, at times beautiful, sometimes tragic, but always to illuminate reality.
Director Ben Guillory (Producing Artistic Director) leads this large, multi-racial cast with expertise making use of the handsome space at LATC masterfully. Instead of having innumerable entrances and exits he allows cast members to sit comfortably at the sides of the stage, flowing in and out of the various scenes and shifting time periods smoothly and effortlessly. There is an upper level to the playing area, and we see, with great effect, almost floating in the air, Bert Williams, famous vaudeville comedian of the period, performing his routine. Some of the acting seems a bit stiff and inexperienced, but Guillory manages to maintain a directness and simplicity most of the time. Jonathan Palmer created a provocative Eugene O’Neill.
I found this an extremely interesting project. Unfortunately it only played March 26-April 4, 2010 at LATC. Perhaps it will pop up elsewhere.