Your guide for Black History Month
Hold on to your attitude about Black History Month for a moment. Whether you question why there's a crop of new shows having to do with the African-American experience just because it's February, or applaud the occasion as an important observation (and at this point, historic; Black History Month dates back to 1976), one point trumps both: There are shows out there worth seeing. Chicago director J. Nicole Brooks is the director of the play currently at Lookingglass Theatre about Jackie Robinson, and for her part she said she wanted to put on "Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting" but also wanted not to be scheduled in the Black History Slot. That's what she calls it, the Black History Slot.
"I said, 'This is a play about baseball.' I wanted to put it later in the season so we all could have this visceral reaction," she said, "and go out and catch a baseball game." Hard to do in February. "I'll say this much, there's a lot of 9-year-old kids out there that have never heard of Jackie Robinson," she said. "So if I can bring them this story, yeah, I'll take the Black History Slot."
Also this month, there's "Race" at the Goodman Theatre, the Ralph Ellison novel "Invisible Man" adapted for the stage at Court Theatre, "The Legend of Buster Neal" at eta Creative Arts and, opening next week at the Biograph, "Ameriville." Seven shows in all. — Doug George
"I said, 'This is a play about baseball.' I wanted to put it later in the season so we all could have this visceral reaction," she said, "and go out and catch a baseball game." Hard to do in February. "I'll say this much, there's a lot of 9-year-old kids out there that have never heard of Jackie Robinson," she said. "So if I can bring them this story, yeah, I'll take the Black History Slot."
Also this month, there's "Race" at the Goodman Theatre, the Ralph Ellison novel "Invisible Man" adapted for the stage at Court Theatre, "The Legend of Buster Neal" at eta Creative Arts and, opening next week at the Biograph, "Ameriville." Seven shows in all. — Doug George
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'Invisible Man'
The very first stage adaptation of Ralph Ellison's 1952 novel is at Court Theatre. The play follows the path of the book's young, black protagonist in mid-20th-century America. He's a promising high school valedictorian, then he's looking for work in New York armed with dubious letters of recommendation, then he's a member of the Harlem-based Brotherhood movement.
From Chris Jones' review: Teagle F. Bougere is an actor who clearly understands he's playing an African-American everyman, buffeted by forces, switching endlessly from positive to negative, without regard to the race of the influencer. Bougere shows us a man who finally learns he cannot control the acts of others, even as the lesson comes with great personal pain. Yet there's nothing showy or romantic about what Bougere is doing; his character is not an idealization but an ordinary, flawed man never far from retreat. What it says on the subject: "What I can tell you is what Ellison says in his epilogue," said Court Theatre artistic director Charles Newell. "He writes, 'America is woven of many strands. I would recognize them and let it so remain. Our fate is to become one, and yet many.'" Details: Through Feb. 19 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.; $45-$65 at 773-753-4472 or courttheatre.org |
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