Remy Bumppo Theatre Company presents BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY.
A nightclub singer, a costume designer, a social worker and a doctor create a makeshift community in 1930s Harlem. They toast successes, champion dreams, and clean-up life messes… together. Although they each have different aspirations, they bond over their hopeful pursuits. The arrival of a stranger from Alabama changes everything.
Playwright Pearl Cleage’s storytelling is timeless. Her prohibition era play engages with contemporary themes. Cleage’s characters are fighting against conservative Christian tyranny for reproductive and human rights. Sound familiar? It is. And relatable. Cleage balances the humor and drama as her characters pursue a quality of life for themselves and others.
Director Mikael Burke paces Cleage’s story tight utilizing Scenic Designer Lauren Nichols’ cleverly layered set. Her build-out allows Burke to orchestrate intrigue in the seamless comings and goings at two apartments. Under Burke’s masterful direction, this ensemble is sublime: Angel (Tiffany Renee Johnson), Guy (Breon Arzell), Delia (Jazzlyn Luckett Aderele), Leland (Ajax Dontavius) and Sam (Edgar Sanchez). They play their roles with such distinction it feels less like a play and more like real life unfolding in real time. The dialogue sounds organic. The responses feel impulsive. A character’s vulnerability elicits true empathy… and sometimes disgust.
The entire ensemble delivers perfection. A vivacious Johnson spirals in and out of control repeatedly. A hilariously animated Arzell zings with a word, an eye-roll or his unapologetic, bougie attitude. The understated, lovely Aderele is literally the girl-next-door. Dontavius gives off a quiet, steadfast allure. And Sanchez effectively teeters between happy-go-lucky and problem-solver.
Remy Bumppo’s BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY is a triumph. Is it the writing, directing or acting? Yes! It doesn’t get better than this production. I highly recommend securing a ticket to this show.
Running Time: Two hours and forty-five minutes includes an intermission
At Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont
Written by Pearl Cleage
Directed by Mikael Burke
Performances are:
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:30pm
Thru October 15th
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Nomee Photography
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