3 minute read
Real Estate
By Linda Armstrong
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Powerful, poignant, persuasive—“A Soldier’s Play” at the American Airlines Theatre on W 42nd Street is a perfect example of how Black men are demeaned, abused and degraded in this country. Though it is set in 1944 at an Army base in Lou isiana, the Pulitzer Prize winning story by Charles Fuller is very relatable in to day’s society. It is a portrait of the racism in this country and the self-hatred that Blacks at times feel towards themselves and one another.
As I sat in the theater before the production I had to smile as I watched numerous seats in the orchestra section fill up with our people. I love how our people will come and support when we know that it is us on the stage and it is the work of a Black playwright being done. Now, it didn’t hurt that gorgeous Blair Underwood is part of this all-star cast, or that it also stars David Alan Gri er. It’s interesting how Grier got into the business through comedy, but proves every chance he can that he is so much
Jerry O'Connell and Blair Underwood in Roundabout Theatre Company's A SOLDIER'S PLAY, Photo by Joan Marcus 2019
Rob Demery, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and McKinley Belcher III in Roundabout Theatre Company's A SOLDIER'S PLAY, 2019
more than a comedic performer. Grier constantly is able to demonstrate his dramatic acting prowess every time I see him on stage in a Broadway production. And believe me, him starring in the role of Sergeant Waters is no laughing mat ter. I love the way that he shows all the layers of this harsh Black man, who is over the Black troops and treats them like they were the enemy. He is someone who has been beaten down so severely by the White man that he resents them, but has the common sense never to take out his frustrations on them. Underwood is superbly cast as Captain Davenport, a Black lawyer and officer, something rare in those days. I love how Underwood steps on to the stage and immediately commands it.
Jerry O’Connell is fantastic, humor ous at times and conflicted as Captain Charles Taylor, the White command ing officer over the Black troops, who doesn’t have real relationships with his men and didn’t know Waters very well, but sincerely wants to solve the question of who killed him. He is also captivating as he goes through the metamorphosis of being someone who never could grasp a Black man as an officer and at first has a very difficult time accepting Daven port’s presence on the base.
The Black soldiers on the base each has their own story to tell about Sergeant Waters. Each has a reason for feeling about the Sergeant the way he does and they tell vivid recollections of this Ser geant who degraded and mistreated his men every case he got. The actors who play the troops display an energy on that stage that is mesmerizing. Nnamdi Aso mugha plays Private First Class Melvin
David Alan Grier, Blair Underwood, and Billy Eugene Jones in Roundabout Theatre Company's A SOLDIER'S PLAY, 2019. Photo by Joan Marcus
Peterson; McKinley Belcher II plays Private Henson; Billy Eugene Jones plays Private Wilkie; Jared Grimes plays Private Smalls; J. Alphonse Nicholson plays Private C.J. Memphis, Rob De mery plays Corporal Bernard Cobb. Nate Mann as Lieutenant Byrd and Captain Wilcox, the last White soldiers to see the Sergeant alive, definitely hold their own. The production has detailed cos tumes by Dede Ayite; engaging set design by Derek McLane; attention grabbing lighting by Allen Lee Hughes and marvelous sound design by Dan Moses Schreier. Director Kenny Leon truly outdoes himself with this landmark production. He had the vision to make sure that Fuller’s play finally made it to a Broadway stage. I also love the way he uses the Blues being performed to set the mood in the beginning of the play and moments throughout the production. His direction throughout the play is con sistently tight! “A Soldier’s Story” is an absolute MUST-SEE! It’s one of those plays you could see over and over again and notice something new and rich! This Roundabout Theatre Company produc tion will play March 15. For tickets go to roundabouttheatre.org.
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A KNOCK-YOUR-SOCKS-OFF DRAMA. ” –MARILYN STASIO, VARIETY
–ROMA TORRE, NY1 “ DAVID ALAN GRIER IS PHENOMENAL. ”
