Play Explores Racial Tension In American Theater

Story of All-Black Theater Troupe Proves Inspiring

A play inside a play: The African Company Presents Richard III will be performed tonight at 8 p.m. in Hall auditorium. (photo by Lea Morgenstern)

Courage, pride and strength are three words which spring to mind after watching Director Caroline Jackson Smith's production of Carlyle Brown's The African Company Presents Richard III. After a viewing of the well-performed drama one will know why.

Despite its non-descript title, the play unfolds a very detailed plot. Set in New York circa 1821, it tells the story of America's first all-black theater troupe and their attempt to perform Shakespeare's classic tragedy amidst the racism of pre-civil war America, the result of which becomes, according to Jackson Smith, "the beginning of African-American playwriting."

The play is based on a true story in which entrepreneur William Henry Brown (played by first-year Melvin Jimenez), a free black American, is forced to shut down his production of Richard III due to competition from a rival white theater company. The suspense builds as the African Company relocates to a hotel right next door to the Park Theater, where a white-owned company is preparing its own production of Richard III.

Ultimately, the combined forces of white theater company manager Stephen Price, portrayed villainously by first-year Dan Keegan, and the Constable-Man, portrayed just as sinisterly by junior Adam Marvel, work to stop the production and jail the members of the African Company. It is here where William Henry Brown reveals the manuscript of his own play based on a slave insurrection on the Island of St. Vincent. Unable to perform the story of Richard III, the African Company begins to "perform their own story and find their own voice in America," Jackson-Smith said.

However, Brown's play deals with much more than just the trials of the African Company's forced relocation. It explores the impact of slavery in the larger context of society as well as in the personal lives of the characters.

The theater group is constantly dismissed as a mere "novelty" act and never acknowledged as the talented actors they truly are. This is clear in the scene in which lead actor Jimmy Hewlett, nicely portrayed by sophomore Channing Joseph, reads a newspaper article in which a critic dismisses his portrayal of King Richard III as a "plausible imitation."

One of the clearest and most moving examples of racism's painful effect on the lives of the characters comes in Hewlett's monologue explaining what draws him to the stage. "I get to be loved and accepted. To be openly admired. Š It's all glass that I know how to polish and make clear. So that any man can see that I am any man," states Hewlett, indicating how theater gives him a momentary escape from being judged only by his skin color.

The development of intense relationships also adds to Smith's production. Several well-executed scenes with the reluctant couple Jimmy Hewlett and Ann Johnson (sophomore Chaunetta Jones) are highlights of the play's development of the relationships among the characters.

Also well done are the roles of the mother and father-type figures, Papa Shakespeare, (senior Michael S. Preacely) and Sarah (junior Shinnerrie Jackson). Preacely and Jackson both give very colorful performances, breathing much life into the play.

Brown's carefully worded script also adds to the production. "I really hope that people get a chance to understand the importance of how Carlyle Brown uses lines from Richard III to emphasize points and feelings in the play. Everything is interconnected," junior Assistant Director Aqila Mayle said.

The African Company Presents Richard III also raises issues that are still pertinent to African-American actors today. "Often times we still see African-American actors in the roles of sidekicks or the best friend as opposed to those of like a Meg Ryan," junior Shinnerrie Jackson. said

"The daring and the power of these people in 1821 is an inspiration to all of us," Smith said. Not only should those who attend this weekend's production of The African Company Presents Richard III come prepared to see fine acting and a well-directed play, but in the words of Jackson, they should also come "come prepared to learn."

The African Company Presents Richard III plays at the Hall Auditorium tonight and Saturday at 8, and Sunday at 2. Tickets are $8 public, $4 with OCID.