Ebony Repertory Theatre’s highly successful production A Raisin in the Sunopened Sunday at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.
The classic Lorraine Hansberry play debuted in 1959, and was the first play produced by an African American woman on Broadway. The playwright was inspired by her own family experiences moving into an all-white neighborhood when she was a child -- the Washington Park Subdivision of Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood during the early 1950s.
The play later became a film starring Sidney Portier who is most famous for playing the part of Walter Younger.
Set in Chicago, the play follows the Youngers, an African American family, on their journey to go beyond being just a working class family. When the father dies, the mother, Lena (Kim Staunton), receives a check for $10,000 of insurance money. The family differs in how the money should be spent.
The son, Walter Lee, wants to invest in risky business decisions, while his mother wants to put money down on a house. It changes their relationships and ultimately affects their future.
Phylicia Rashad, best known for her role on “The Cosby Show,” directed this rendition of the play. She has also starred on Broadway in the play as the matron and won a Tony for her performance. As a veteran actress both in film and theater, Rashad directed the poignant moments of the piece allowing each actor their opportunity to capture the struggle their character felt.
The pacing of the play managed to flow between the dramatic monologues into more natural laughter without missing a beat.
The cast includes a mix of newcomers and those with more experience on stage. Kenya Alexander, who portrayed Beneatha Younger, a young girl with the dreams of becoming a doctor, shined in her role as a fiery young woman with goals and searching for her identity. She offered many comedic moments in a play that delves into heavy issues.
The pivotal role of Walter Younger (Kevin T. Carroll) offered a perspective of anguish, fear, and confusion of a man driven to drink. He truly captured the agony of a man trying to make decisions without the support or understanding of his family. Walter finally takes a stand in one of the play’s pivotal and gratifying moments.
His wife, Ruth, was played by Deidrie Henry, the bright spot in the performance. She seemed to be most connected to the spirit of her character.
All the actors brought a well-developed character to stage, and there were no weak links. The talented ensemble realized the depth of the characters and never missed an opportunity to take the emotions to the next level. Although, in the first half of the production, it did seem as if the actors were too caught-up in the dialogue.
The entire play was set on a stage that showed the Younger apartment on Chicago’s Southside. There were no fancy props or special effects. The lights fade in and out occasionally when a scene changed, but the set was simple (The box of Corn Flakes cereal in the kitchen made me a bit hungry). Its simplicity, along with the strong acting from the cast, kept the focus solely on the story. It was done without being melodramatic and kept the balance between humor and realism.
"A Raisin In the Sun" is a play that has uncomfortable moments, but it is those moments that open the dialogue on race, economics, and family.
The play ends on a truly uplifting note of great promise for this family you have grown to love. Hansberry’s timeless message informs and resonates with modern audiences.
A Raisin In The Sun, continues through February 19 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre (9820 Washington Blvd). For tickets and information, call the Center Theatre Group box office at (213) 628-2772 or visit http://www.KirkDouglasTheatre.org
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