Tall, thin, and tough, Yolanda (Whitney Chamblee, a rising senior at the Weaver Performing Arts Academy) walks and talks with an attitude, and she opens the show by explaining why: her brother Teddy was shot and killed, and she's been forced to move from her beloved Brooklyn, NY to the South and live with her grandmother, Mother Shaw
Mother Shaw (Sandra Jones) and four other African-American women take turns trying to convey to Yolanda why their hats are such an important part of their identities, hoping that she'll develop the same respect and appreciation for their hat-wearing traditions. While they share a love for hats, these five women each have different lessons and experiences to share, and their diverse personalities are reflected in the different colors and styles of their hats. After these women are first introduced under dim lights wearing only slips, background screens are turned to reveal individual closets in which we get to see the vividly colored outfits they will change into. As we listen to them tell their background stories one by one, we watch the others change into their full attire. Mother Shaw ends up wearing white; Mabel (Jamilla Curry) red; Velma (Tennille Foust) purple; Wanda (Melanie Matthews) orange; and Jeanette (Randi Martin) blue. All five of these actresses are graduates of N.C. A & T State University, and their performances only take Aggie Pride to even higher levels.
Yolanda listens as these women tell their stories, but she is not always excited about or interested in what they have to say. There is a generational gap, and it takes time for her to gain the appreciation and enthusiasm they have for hats. A baseball cap turned sideways works for her throughout much of the play, and it is only with time that she embraces a hat that her elders might regard as more fitting and dignified.
These women have a full arsenal of approaches for sharing their love for hats: they tell stories, they pass along sayings (hatisms), they teach lessons, they sing, they dance, they provide both serious and humorous reenactments, and above all else, they model the hats they cherish. As if in a pageant, there is a competitive spirit among the women, but while there is a sense of wanting to wear and show off the best hat, there's also a respect and appreciation for seeing other women wear the beautiful hats they choose to wear. It wouldn't be as beautiful a world for any of these women ever to find herself alone as a hat-wearer.
While "Crowns" celebrates women, it does not ignore the role that men can play in women's hat-wearing customs. Joseph Level, a widely acclaimed radio personality with 1510 Big WEAL Gospel, plays the all-purpose Man for this show, and he adds a wonderful voice, diverse personalities, and his own collection of hats. (You can see him become a different character just by changing of hats.)
Director Donna Baldwin-Bradby, an Adjunct Professor and Director of Marketing and Publicity for the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at North Carolina A & T State University, follows up her wonderful job directing Triad Stage's "From the Mississippi Delta" in the spring.
Darrell J. Hunt, a senior professional theatre major at North Carolina A & T State University, serves as the Stage Manager.
Stephanie D. Gray, a member of the Theatre Faculty at North Carolina A & T State University, serves as the Musical Director and Keyboardist. In her bio on the program, she expresses appreciation for "working with her favorite collaborator, Donna Bradby."
While I've tried to use words to capture some of the essence of "Crowns," none of what I've written comes close to capturing the actual experience of viewing this musical in person. You need to see it for yourself. There was a good crowd for the opening show, but there was room for more to attend. It's a show that deserves an audience, and if you're around and have the time, you really should make plans to attend.
Here's information about the seven remaining shows, how you can get tickets, and where the Open Space Cafe Theatre is located:
- Friday, August 8 at 8:00 PM
- Saturday, August 9 at 8:00 PM
- Sunday, August 10 at 2:00 PM
- Thursday, August 14 at 8:00 PM
- Friday, August 15 at 8:00 PM
- Saturday, August 16 at 8:00 PM
- Sunday, August 17 at 2:00 PM
Call 336-292-2285 for tickets. If the answering machine answers, just leave a) your name, b)phone number, c) the number of tickets you need, and d) the date you wish to attend.
Tickets are $20.00 per person; $17.00 each for senior citizens; $10.00 for students 17 years old and younger. If you have a party of 8 or more, you will receive a $2.00 discount per ticket.
The Open Space Cafe Theatre is located at 4609 W. Market Street in Greensboro. It's a small, intimate theatre, located across from Bert's Seafood Grille and next door to a Public Storage facility. Directions can be found here.
The show is approximately 1 1/2 hours, and there is no intermission. Drinks and desserts may be purchased before the show begins, and you sit at tables at which you can enjoy your refreshments during the performance.
Be sure to spread the word about this show.
And I hope you'll enjoy "Crowns" as much as I did.
No comments:
Post a Comment