2010: End Of Year Wrap-up
It's January. Like the Roman god Janus I am quietly reflecting
on events of the past, while stoically waiting for those yet to
come.
As a long-time theater critic, looking back is my earnest effort to
recall all of the productions I have seen last year.. Some of them have
become blurry shadows lost in the crowd; others remain as crystal
clear, colorful events that sparkle with energy.
At the top of the list there were a few (a large handful) that
were so dynamic, gut-wrenching, profound, evocative, and/or
electrifying, they are engraved in my mind.
True, my comments are late in coming; but I feel compelled to write
a bit about two of them: The Matrix Theatre production of "Neighbors"
(which has ended its run) and The Fountain Theatre production of "The
Train Driver" (which closed on January 30).
Both "Neighbors" and "The Train Driver" are extremely
controversial works that strike at the heart of racism from opposite
ends of the spectrum. Though "Neighbors" was written by emerging
playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and "The Train Driver" is the
work of world-renowned, South African dramatist Athol Fugard, both
works were theatrically painful and difficult to sit through.
As such, each was a powerful, "must-see" production that challenged
the audience to think hard---a play that dared us to feel deeply about a
subject taking place up-close, here and now, right in front of our eyes.
Hats off to Joseph Stern at The Matrix and Simon Levy at The
Fountain for having the courage to produce such controversial
material. Our community is enriched by works of such high quality.
Neither one would succeed, of course, without solid direction
and superb performances; so a belated round of applause to Nataki
Garret and Stephen Sachs for their brilliant helming of "Neighbors"
and "The Train Driver."
Next, speaking of casts, "Neighbors" deserved an award for the
outstanding performance of its entire ensemble. When was the last
time you saw a satirical farce so dark that African-American actors
named Mammy, Sambo, Topsy, and Jim Crow appeared in "black face,"
while portraying their comical characters so over-the-top it made
your stomach ache? The audience got the painful message "in spades"
(pun intended), even as they couldn't stop laughing.
As for Morlan Higgins (the inconsolable, grief-stricken train
driver) and Adolphus Ward (the hard-working, gentle grave-yard
attendant), their heart-wrenching drama ripped right through us. In
spite of rendition and the end of apartheid, racism continues to
this day, in both our country and South Africa.
BTW: Even though the world is in the midst of an incredible, electronic/
digital era, nothing depicts the human condition as powerfully as living actors,
performing living theatre, on the living stage.