Theatre: The Fire This Time Festival 2011

Exodus, written by Camille Darby and directed by Christopher Burris, represented the changes in life which occur when parents age and children become adults. The mother, Janet, played by Lisa Strum, is no longer the superior figure of her daughter, Catherine, played by Angela Polite. She is making decisions for her mother because she craves to be in control of a situation more than her own marriage. But she still is her mother’s child even though she has a lack of understanding of her mother’s conditional needs for her own home life. But she desires her mother supportive advice about her estranged married. The writing was very relevant because it showed how relationships transform and families try their best to maintain the balance of transformations.

Breakfast, written by Yusef Miller and directed by Zoey, provided a hidden anger through the topic of arguing over Pop Tarts for breakfast.  Glen (played by Sean C. Turner) and Harriet (played by Juliette Jeffers) won the audience over with their resentfully on-set relationship. Miller wrote humorously, but there was clearly a serious topic being discussed over the morning breakfast. Their son’s death was the hidden topic of what lead him to suicide. Miller stated, “I believe my play, Breakfast is a strong introduction to my artistic voice. The issue of teen suicide, stemming from the demonization of and the indifference to homosexuality within our schools and homes is a burning issue. And, so I hope I have exposed it, astutely, from within its darkest corner.” 

The Scorpion and the Fox was written by Jesse Cameron and directed by LA Williams. This play was basically about a father and son’s relationship and how the son judges his father decisions—the relationship on set was somewhat dry. Jared Joseph played a guilty father, while Chauncey Gilbert played the son. Joseph had a strong performance because he made it amusingly funny within the last five minutes of the show with his body movements.

Third Grade was written by Dominique Morisseau and directed by Monica L. Williams. This play was about an angry parent (played by Louis Martinez) who came to seek revenge on his son’s teacher (played by Andrea Patterson). The strong storyline was true to the fact that New York City children are growing up quickly compared to their suburban counterparts, because of their exposure of city life. Morisseau presented Third Grade it as a platform that questioned the teachers’ role, and parents’ role. Teachers roles are very difficult — tasked to educate children for parents who aren’t being responsible for their children’s actions or experiences. There is a lost of education, parental guidance, responsibility, and community but Third Grade attempts to answer all these questions.

Yusef Miller stated, “Clearly, this festival is building momentum and its audience. Right now, it is incumbent upon its current supporters like yourselves to continue your support. Your continued support guarantees improvements in production value, casting, and directing. Moreover, your continued support indirectly raises the creative bar for us playwrights.” I received a dose of enlightenment from each piece; all of which gave an interesting snapshot of African-American talent in theatre arts.

On January 26th, I went to see another play called On Troubled Waters by Derek Lee McPhatter — There may be nothing left to lose as the city vanishes into the sea but three challengers – a healer, a teacher and a soldier will finally confront that madman at the bridge. It’s a showdown, throw-down for the ages, but nobody agreed to a fair fight, and this time madness just might be love. McPhatter gave a different spin on his play with a more sci-fi animated characters; his play was very humorous, and picked a grand cast to deliver the material.