REVIEW

Only two chances to see great Trinity production of Baldwin play

By Don Fowler
Posted 3/31/16

We sat in the upstairs Dowling Theatre at Trinity Rep last weekend for one of only three opportunities to see James Baldwin’s provocative play, “Blues For Mr. Charlie.”

Performed by the same …

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REVIEW

Only two chances to see great Trinity production of Baldwin play

Posted

We sat in the upstairs Dowling Theatre at Trinity Rep last weekend for one of only three opportunities to see James Baldwin’s provocative play, “Blues For Mr. Charlie.”

Performed by the same cast and with the same director and artistic team as “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the intense, emotional play proves to be a perfect companion to Harper Lee’s “Mockingbird.” If only it had more than two more performances to accommodate audiences who would benefit by seeing it.

Director Brian McEleney uses the same set and theatre-in-the-round staging to bring us the story of a white southern man accused of killing a young black man. Comparisons are obvious between the two plays, one by a private white woman and the other by an angry, public black man.

“Mr. Charlie,” a phrase used by southern blacks for the white man, has reason to sing the blues. Times are changing in the south of the ’60s (30 years after the setting for “Mockingbird”). Black men are returning home after spending years in the north, bringing with them different attitudes and courage, while nothing much has changed south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Like “Mockingbird,” “Blues for Mr. Charlie” sets the scene in the first act before the trial scene of Act 2.

The amazing thing about this play is the emotion-packed performances of the actors, who for the rest of the week play different characters in “Mockingbird.” Some of them play multiple characters in both plays.

I must single out Jude Sandy, a multi-talented young MFA graduate of the Brown/Trinity Rep consortium. Jude has already distinguished himself on Broadway, Off-Broadway, at a number of regional theatres, and at Trinity in a variety of challenging roles. His roles as the minister/father of his murdered son, plus the white son of Atticus Finch in the other play, are all memorable. His personal story, passionately told in “Mockingbird,” will bring tears to your eyes.

“Blues For Mr. Charlie” is at Trinity on March 27 and April 1. The play is followed by a 20-minute talkback. Call now for reservations, 351-4242.

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