Review: HARRIET TUBMAN Comes to Life at The Evergreen Theatre
By: Caroline Sposto Jul. 16, 2016
In 1849, a twenty-eight year-old former slave named Harriet Tubman risked her life to lead a group of other slaves to freedom. Over the course of ten years, she made an additional nineteen trips. She didn't lose any of her three hundred "passengers" on The Underground Railroad. They called her "Moses."
On my way to The Evergreen Theatre last night, I passed group of citizens assembled on behalf of the Black Lives Matter movement. They were protesting the 2015 death of a nineteen year-old black man who was shot by Memphis Police officers while handcuffed and in police custody. Activism takes many forms.
In 2012, actress, singer, director and writer, Jackie Murray stepped forward as an artist with a unique and powerful initiative. Her one-woman show entitled: HARRIET TUBMAN: ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY breathes life and soul into a textbook historical figure.
In this unique two-act play, Murray is Tubman. Throughout the entire production, she breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience as if they are fellow slaves. During the first act, she is the younger Harriet, leading her people to freedom. In act two, she is the very old Harriet in her home reminiscing with those she helped. It is in this act, for example that we learn about her involvement as a nurse and scout during the American Civil War.
Please note that I chose to use the verb "is" instead of "plays" when describing Murray's performance because she so fully and thoroughly inhabits this role.
Four years ago Murray created this play as a school assembly for Black History Month. (Due to time constraints, her performances in schools are limited to act one only.) Young Harriet resonated with the students and the response was overwhelming. Young people, by the hundreds, rose to their feet to cheer applaud at the end of the program. Hands shot up for the Q&A that followed. That hasn't changed. This success isn't just due to Murray's convincing performance and soulful acapella gospel singing, it's also due to her writing. She did exhaustive research and the story she tells goes into deep, fascinating detail to provide a textured biography that wouldn't be otherwise told in school.
"It helps to get people interested in where they came from," Murray said in an interview with Mary Ann Washington. "Freedom is precious, and if you don't know your history you are bound to repeat it."
The play's popularity in schools led Murray to bring the complete show to conventional theatrical venues as well. This current run is in conjunction with Inner City South and Theatreworks. Thanks to their support, this production goes above and beyond school assembly level. It's a full evening of theatre complete with lighting and sound design. Original works like this are another reason Memphis is such a great town for theatre.
Jackie Murray is a performer whose presence embodies the vibrance and authenticity of Memphis. If you want to see one of our finest local actresses, you must see her perform. HARRIET TUBMAN: ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY is a worthwhile and memorable production. If you can't make it to The Evergreen Theatre for tonight's performance, put it on your "must see" list. It's been a success for four years, and I feel optimistic that this powerful one woman show will be brought back to grace our local stages for years to come.
Harriet Tubman: One Woman's Journey
When: Fri.-Sat., July 15-16, 8 p.m.
Phone: 901-833-7870
Price: $20
Where: The Evergreen Theatre, 1705 Poplar, Midtown
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