Theatre Review

Clever ‘Day of Absence’ at Mixed Magic

Don Fowler
Posted 9/29/15

Theatre Review

By DON FOWLER

Pawtucket’s Mixed Magic Theatre has revived Douglas Turner Ward’s farcical 1965 one-act play, “Day of Absence,” for a short run through October …

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Theatre Review

Clever ‘Day of Absence’ at Mixed Magic

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Pawtucket’s Mixed Magic Theatre has revived Douglas Turner Ward’s farcical 1965 one-act play, “Day of Absence,” for a short run through October 3.

Directed by Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, the play has been described as a “reverse minstrel comedy,” with all of the black actors playing whites in “white face.”

The premise is that all of the black people in an imaginary southern town have suddenly disappeared. Townsfolk are filled with puzzlement, uncertainty, curiosity and a bit of fear. What are they going to do without their nannies, bootblacks, janitors, factory workers and low-wage earners? It is a clever concept that repeats itself a bit too much in its short hour and 10-minute running time.

Some of the cast members play more than one role, including the director, on the night we saw the show, filling in for one of the actors. The acting runs from professional to amateur, with some of the actors shouting their parts.

Stealing the show is Jay Walker plays the Mayor who goes on the radio in a hilarious appeal to the “nigras” to return, offering them a number of concessions.

Ward has written a twist ending to a clever concept that quickly makes its point and could be shortened a bit and perhaps performed with another one-act play.

For tickets ($20) call 305-7333. Performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

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