The Tears of Things

The Black Theatre Troupe Changed Me

by Catherine King

I'm trying to think of suitable superlatives about their production of Tony Kushner's Caroline, or Change. I've just got to gush over something about which I know nothing. When the play was over last Saturday night, and the audience walked away without giving The Black Theatre Troupe a standing ovation, I felt a little rude. It felt kind of abrupt.

So, although I could count the live plays I've seen on both hands, and can offer no weighty opinions, I do share this cultural blog with Jerome, and just want to put it out there that The Black Theatre Troupe is breathtaking. This is the take of someone who knows nothing about the theater, and is quite probably tone-deaf as well. The professionalism of the whole cast and crew was, well, dreamy.

I say dreamy because I was transported through space and history to Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the late fall of November, 1963. The actors, actresses, musicians and everyone involved successfully wove their time spell. There could not possibly be anything more romantic than the Theater!

The tiny venue at Phoenix College's John Paul Theater was efficiently arranged. The most amazing effect was the passage of the Moon Woman through the sky from left to right over several nights from November 22nd through the firt nights of Hannukah. I don't know how the moon was made to magically appear-- good illusion. The Moon Woman, in a light blue gown, was illuminated with extreme sidelighting, so that volume of her own body cast the shadow on her dark side. And what a voice!

Everybody sang. How can they do it? I kept thinking, "I don't understand why these people aren't famous." Taylore Mahogany Scott (Caroline) is an incredible talent, like them all. My favorite voice though, was Piper Davis, as Dotty Moffett, the sweetest girlfriend a woman could want.

Caroline is probably going to start counting, and thanking, her lucky stars up there in the night sky. A job that's so much more than steady, with employers who literally adore her inspite of her bad attitude (can you imagine?). Two healthy sons, a brilliant daughter who can make her proud and has learned to be proud in return. Dotty is defining the limits to her friendship (why be a doormat?), and I predict the selfless Elizabeth Peterson as Rose Gellman, will be the next to get the respect she has earned.

Caroline, or Change didn't really change me. Like Caroline, I don't really need to, just because other people project that on me. But the play really enriched my life. I could argue with Tony Kushner over a few of the finer points of his tale, but the The Black Theatre Troupe, and the white, and I guess brown folks, who contributed to this production, were flawless.

I'm giving them all a Standing O right here in my living room right now.

Posted by Jerome at December 26, 2007 02:30 PM | TrackBack