BWW Reviews: BENEATHA'S PLACE at Center Stage - World Premiere is Stunning Success

I don't think there's ever been so much buzz around Center Stage in its 50 year old history. There have been articles in the New York Times and the Boston Globe and on Friday night, October 25, 2013 the whole nation can watch a PBS production entitled "A RAISIN IN THE SUN Revisited" with video clips and interviews surrounding the two Center Stage productions.

Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah when he announced the 2012-13 season spoke about presenting "The Raisin Cycle". That is following up the classic hit play RAISIN IN THE SUN with the Putlizer Prize winning play by Bruce Norris CLYBOURNE PARK and then adding his own two cents with a World Premiere production of BENEATHA'S PLACE (Beneatha being a character in RAISIN).

Kwei-Armah, in a terrific piece in the Baltimore Sun on May 12, 2013 by Mary Carol McCauley, admitted he initially asked three other playwrights to write a response to CLYBOURNE PARK. According to McCauley, two were unavailable and the third said, "The fire is in your belly. Why don't you write it yourself."

First, it is true Kwei-Armah is a gifted playwright and two of his plays had their American premieres produced at Center Stage, ELMINA'S KITCHEN and LET THERE BE LOVE. But this season is his first as Artistic Director. For him to attempt to tackle this task of writing a world premiere play himself, to go with his idea of "The Raisin Cycle" demonstrates a huge amount of chutzpah (or courage). I even mentioned this to him after the opening night performance and he flashed his huge grin he's known for.

Has he pulled it off?? An enthusiastic YES!!!

While the Norris play is truly an ensemble piece, BENEATHA'S PLACE is all about Beneatha, played by the incomparable Jessica Frances Dukes who tackles this role with amazing ease. Her character Beneatha in "Raisin" was studying to be a nurse and falls in love with a Nigerian, Joseph Asagai (you may recall him wearing African dress).

Here, Beneatha in Act I has moved to Nigeria married to Asagai in 1959 where she is studying to be a doctor. Her husband (played by the terrific Charlie Hudson, III) is a powerful leader in Nigeria attempting to mediate a struggle for power and dealing with the steps for independence from England.

As in CLYBOURNE PARK, they move into a new home with boxes owned by a White American family about to leave their home. The couple (Jonathan Crombie and the hysterical Jenna Sokolowski) attempt to show the new owners some understanding of their Nigerian ways. Beneatha must put up with being taught how to put on the lights and fans.

Act II takes us to modern times. Benetha is now in her seventies (she ages well), is a social anthropologist, dean at a major university and is attending a conference in Nigeria with her faculty colleagues. She invites them to her old house which she has continued to maintain while in the U.S. It's been unlived in since 1961 and is full of dust. She convenens a meeting to discuss an important issue and that is whether the university should replace the school's African-American studies program with a "criticAl Whiteness" program.

It will help in your enjoyment of BENETHEA if you see CLYBOURNE PARK first. Kwei-Armah cleverly uses similar situations found in the Norris play in his play. There are even racist jokes which caused audiences to laugh in CLYBORUNE PARK which when told in BENETHEA told in a different manner, don't get the same reaction.

While the play obviously deals with the serious issue of race, Kwei-Armah is very adept at comedy as well.

Rounding out the superb cast are Jonathan Crombie, Beth Hylton, Jacob Knoll, James Ludwig (all also in CLYBOURNE PARK) and Kim James Beyas Aunty Fola.

Kudos to Derrick Sanders who has directed both plays brilliantly. Scenic Design is by by Jack Magaw, lighting by Thom Weaver and Reggie Ray did the appropriate costumes.

The two plays run in repertory until June 16. For tickets, call 410-332-0033 or visit www.centerstage.org.

Center Stage is presenting on June 8 at 4 p.m. "Behind the Rep" where you can watch the stage crew change from one set to another and learn about the process of rotating rep with Production Manager Mike Schleifer.

There will be also be "Talk Backs" following the June 6, June 9, June 13 and June 16 shows. (Sunday talk backs will follow the 2 p.m. matinees).

Prior to the opening night performance, Kwei-Armah hosted a wonderful discussion with three African-American Playwrights, Kirsten Greenridge, Keith Josef Adkins and Lydia Diamond about their experiences in getting their work produced. Diamond is the author of the acclaimed STICK FLY which was presented at the Arena Stage and made it to Broadway. The discussion was video-streamed around the world at HowlRoundTV.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

To post a comment, you must register and login.