“Clybourne Park” was another play showing at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre that I went into it blindly, unaware of what exactly this award-winning production was about.
As the play progresses, it’s clear that this play is about a neighborhood that lives within a country, in a way, haunted by its very own history and the unpredictability of its future. Something else that was pretty clear– the theater scored big.
The Rep’s fourth play of the season and first one of 2014– directed by The Rep founder Cliff Baker, written by playwright Bruce Norris– got its start on Jan. 22, offering an interesting and provocative take on neighborhood and identity that is very relevant to life today driven by strong performances from its full lineup of characters– especially LeeAnne Hutchison, who plays the cheery middle-aged wife Bev in the first act and strong-willed lawyer Kathy in the second act.
“Clybourne Park,” which won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2011, was written by Norris as a companion piece to Lorraine Hansberry’s classic 1959 drama “A Raisin in the Sun.” While that drama is just about as serious as you can get on stage, Norris’ play is a dark comedy, getting some pretty big laughs during those awkward moments when the topic of race comes up.
In 1959, a white couple sells their home to a black family, causing an uproar in their middle-class neighborhood. In the second act– fast forward 50 years later in 2009, where the same house is changing hands again, but things have changed a little bit.
At the beginning, we are introduced to maid Francine (played by Shaleah Adkisson) and Bev, who can be seen packing things up for their impending move while her lackadaiscial husband Russ (played by Robert Ierardi) is relaxed in his armchair thumbing through an issue of National Geographic. While there is a cheery tone at the start of the play, we soon see how things really are this Clybourne Park residence– somewhat tragic.
This tragedy is identified after several other characters file through the home like pastor Jim (played by Ryan Barry) and Francine’s husband Albert (played by Lawrence Evans), as well as couple Karl and Betsy (played by Jason O’Connell and Katie Cunningham, respectively).
Tense dialogue heats up the stage at times, especially when Karl, their leasing agent, shares his disapproval of the new black family who will be moving into the house. But it’s not all hostile– there are some funny moments and some silly moments and some downright uncouth moments.
But, it’s real and does an exceptional job of confronting unaccepting truths about the reality of life in the 1950s and the societal landscape now. In fact, the second act, which takes places in 2009, brings some of the same personal and fragile perceptions to light, and just like the first act, it’s done in a way that’s not clearly articulated, a common theme in society today.
The same house is the focus on the second part of the play, but one thing is a little different: it’s about to be leveled, so a young professional couple, Steve and Lindsey (O’Connell and Cunningham, respectively) can build there. Through the times, though, the neighborhood has seen many changes and a local black couple, Kevin and Lena (played by Evans and Adkisson, respectively), have a few objections to their plans. While their disapproval is initially expressed tactfully, that goes out the door as the scene continues.
These heated debates and laugh-out-loud moments are brought on by superb performances from O’Connell and Cunningham, who play so well off of eachother in part two. And Adkisson really shines as both characters in the two acts, Francine and Lena, who are spirited women unafraid to speak their mind.
Bottom line: This dark comedy brings the issue of race and real estate to the forefront with a wide-open look at both sides of the spectrum and is carefully crafted with enough heart-felt emotion to make you sad, enough funny bits to keep you laughing and enough thought-provoking dialogue to make you think.
Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening performances are at 7 p.m., while Friday and Saturday evening performances are at 8 p.m. Sunday Matinees performances are at 2 p.m.
Purchase tickets online here, call (501) 378-0405 or visit the theatre Box Office, 601 Main St., Little Rock.
For more information about the play, click here and see how “Clybourne Park” relates to issues of race, property, history and legacy in our own communities below.