In celebration of African American History Month, Performance Network presented an evening of two one-act plays concerning slavery and the difficulty of being a woman in a man's world. The first of these two plays is "Mary Goldstein and the Author," written by Ann Arbor playwright OyamO.
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River Dreams, Mary Goldstein Performance Network Feb. 14, 1997 |
"Mary Goldstein" didn't just deal with one woman either. Many different women from other cultures and the many things they do in order to make them more pleasing to men were examined. One of the most touching characters was a Chinese girl who was shown binding her feet in order to keep them small and pleasing, so that she could attract a good husband. While the play was taking part in recognizing African American Heritage Month, it dealt with issues that are applicable to all women. The play showed that no matter what culture a woman belongs to, each culture has the same belief that women are put on Earth to serve and obey men.
The second one-act play was "River Dreams" written by award-winning playwright Elise Bryant. "River Dreams" was based on the true story of two slaves who ran to Detroit for freedom. The play was commissioned by the Michigan Bar Association. The two main characters were Thorton and Rutha Blackburn, played by Braint Hall and Nyima Woods. Woods was outstanding as Rutha, putting every ounce of energy and emotion into her role. Hall was just as good, playing the headstrong and determined slave, desperate for freedom and determined to win Rutha's love. Although the audience heard about but never met the Blackburn's owner, they did meet his wife, Miz Fanny. Miz Fanny was performed by Becky Zarna Fox and was everything a "Southern Belle" is expected to be. Although Rutha and Thorton met up with many helpful people along their journey, they were forced to leave behind one of the dearest characters in the entire play. Both mentor and mother, Queen Esther provided Rutha with plenty of advice, that always seemed to be right. Played by Fran Deckard, Queen Esther was the kind of person we all should have in our lives - caring and sensitive, but also not afraid to say exactly what she thought. Deckard made Bryant's character lovable and managed to warm the hearts of the audience.
In addition to great acting, the play was full of music and emotion. It is highly unlikely that, when Rutha and Thorton were separated, there was a dry eye in the house.
Although the two plays were quite different, they both dealt with difficult issues and forced the audience to reflect on the events and problems of the past. Both directors did a great job in presenting this material and created something that was more than just a lecture on the evils of men and slavery. It was obvious that the playwrights, directors and performers put a great deal of hard work and love into these performances, making it a touching and enjoyable evening.