Review Roundup: American Blues Theater's FLYIN' WEST
By: Alan Henry Oct. 16, 2018
American Blues Theater's 2018-2019 season opener, Flyin' West, written by Pearl Cleage and directed by Artistic Affiliate Chuck Smith is now on stage. Flyin' West features Sydney Charles (Fannie Dove), Wardell Julius Clark (Frank Charles), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Minnie Dove Charles), Joslyn Jones (Miss Leah), Tiffany Oglesby (Sophie Washington) and Henri Watkins (Wil Parish).
The creative team includes Grant Sabin* (Scenic), Lily Grace Walls (Costumes), Jared Gooding* (Lighting), Ricks Sims* (Sound), Kevin Rolfs (Props), and Shandee Vaughan* (Production Manager).
*American Blues Theater Artistic Affiliates.
Flyin' West runs October 5 - November 3, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. The press opening is Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at www.AmericanBluesTheater.com and box office, 773.654.3103.
Following the end of the Civil War, many former slaves took advantage of The Homestead Act and went West to build new lives for themselves and their families. Many of these homesteaders were black women who overcame tremendous odds to work their own land and make a place for themselves in an often harsh and forbidding environment. Set in 1898, Flyin' West is the story of some of these African-American female pioneers who settled, together, in the all-black town of Nicodemus, Kansas.
Let's see what the critics have to say!
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune: Smith's production starts slow but gets better as it goes. Act 1 is a bit stiff, and you sometimes look out at the stage and wonder why all the characters are standing in a straight line. But by Act 2, everyone gets fired up, including Oglesby, who shows us the passionate underbelly of her tough-nut character; Johnson, who is very moving throughout; and Charles, whom I invariably enjoy watching on the stage because she is such a live actor with stellar reactive powers.
Laurence Bommer, Stage and Cinema: With compassion and good humor, Cleage details the endearing particulars of four remarkable women and two rightly marginal men. There may be wishful thinking in the play's pretense that Nicodemus was ever all black or particularly prosperous, but there's no doubting the bedrock decency - or accuracy - of these characters. Each is a rich gift from a generous playwright to six consummate actors.
Alexis Bugajski, Picture This Post: The humor in this show is carried off by each member of the cast, particularly Tiffany Oglesby and Sydney Charles playing the hard willed politically minded Sophie and the keep the peace middle sister Fannie, respectively. They absolutely kill with their sarcasm and pointed looks through the show. Not to mention Tiffany Renee Johnson is easily charming as the baby sister, Minnie.
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