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Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Arts A look at African-American theater
Posted By Carlton Hargro on Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Hopefully, you're aware that February is Black History Month. Well in honor of the annual celebration, CL decided to present reviews of some new African-American theatrical productions.
Writer Thyrsa Gravely had a chance to see these works at last summer's National Black Theatre Festival in Winston Salem, N.C., but you may be seeing the plays at a stage near you before you know it. Here's a look at one play:
Sammy & Me
The Deal: Writer/actor Eric Jordan Young portrays the life of Sammy Davis Jr. and draws parallels to his own life in this one-man musical. Young illustrates Davis' life in entertainment — starting when he was a little boy traveling through vaudeville with his father and uncle in a three-man act. He encounters racism by not being allowed to patronize hotels and restaurants that his patrons and white friends can enjoy. Davis also encounters racism when joining one of the first integrated military platoons. Eric Jordan Young, the actor, feels racism as child when he’s the only black youth in his class and extracurricular activities. And Young encounters racism as he begins his life in entertainment in New York; he finds it difficult to get parts in theater and commercials, many times because he’s black and sometimes because he doesn’t fit the stereotype of an African-Anerican man in America.
The Good: Eric Jordan Young provides a good, but brief, overview of Davis’ life and his path to success in entertainment. Young shows Davis traveling through vaudeville as a child, entering the military, becoming friends with Frank Sinatra and joining The Rat Pack, and shunning the black community during the civil rights movement. He also demonstrates the community’s opinion of Davis. Many blacks considered Davis an Uncle Tom because he often ignored the plight of the blacks and only dated white women during his period of success.
Young’s parallels of Davis’ life and his own demonstrate that although racism today may not be manifested as total separation and lynching, it continues to exist and have an impact on a Black person’s personal life and professional career.
The Bad: Not a great impression of Sammy Davis Jr. Young portrays several characters well but a person can’t envision the real Sammy Davis Jr. when Young steps in his shoes. But, how important is that really? Young is a great performer and the audience can clearly see when he is speaking as Sammy.
The Verdict: This is a high-quality production and could easily be an Off-Broadway play. Recommended for those who enjoy musicals, history, or Sammy Davis Jr.
For more about African-American theater — including info of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company's trip to New York City May 16-18, 2008 — visit: http://www.nbtf.org.
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