By Jacob Lee
The Belknap Theater will open its 2001-2002 season in late September with an African American Theatre Program production of Cincinnati playwright Marcia Leslie’s “The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae.”
Leslie, who has been praised in Back Stage magazine, has stated that her goal as a playwright is “to write, direct and produce stories that heal and give voice to the voiceless.”
“The Trial,” hailed by critics in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and New York, seems to be right on target. Actress LaTasha Hawthorne, who plays the short-sighted black woman, Victoria Dryer, says the play shows why the issue of slavery is still an important one today even though many disregard it.
The play is a political satire set in a courtroom. Victoria Dryer has taken Mammy Louise, played by Kamie McCant, and Safreeta Mae, portrayed by Motriyo Warner, to court for holding her (Victoria) back in the world by perpetuating stereotypes of black women. Mammy Louise is accused of sustaining the image of the “Gone With the Wind” type mammy, while Safreeta Mae is accused of continuing the mulatto vixen stereotype. The Trial counters these stereotypes, which have been purveyed in the media and cinema for over 100 years. The director of the production, U of L theater art professor Lundeanna Thomas, says that this play will initially cause laughter but will leave viewers with thoughts to ponder.
Originally performed as a one-act play in Los Angeles, “The Trial” was worked into a full-length play by the ETA Creative Arts Foundation in Chicago. It has since won the Jeff award for new work in Los Angeles as well as the Black Theatre Alliance award for best new play and Audelco awards, which are African-American awards comparable to Tony awards. Not only a critical success, “The Trial” has received standing ovations across the United States from San Francisco to New York. Thomas first saw it when she was at the National Black Theater Festival presenting “Monsieur Baptiste the Conman” in 1999.
The AATP production of The Trial was cast in April of this year, and production began the week before classes started. Broadway designers Felix Cochren and Kathy Perkins who have designed the set and lighting and staff designer Zhanna Goldentule who is in charge of costume design have helped Dr. Thomas, who also coordinates the AATP.
This production of The Trial is the first AATP play to be entered in the American College Theatre Festival. Success in this competition will lead to a regional competition and eventually a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
In addition to writing the play, Marcia Louise will be attending performances of the play on Thursday, Sept. 20 and Friday, Sept. 21. On these nights, she will be staying in the theater after the performance to answer questions in those nights’ question and answer sessions that will be held after each show. Thomas encourages students to attend a performance of this play, because, in her words, it “will blow their socks off.”
“The Trial” will run Sept. 19-23 at the Playhouse on Cardinal Boulevard between 2nd and 3rd Streets. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday the 23rd. Tickets are $10 for the general public, $9 for faculty, staff, and seniors, and $7 for students. More information about “The Trial” can be obtained by calling Rinda Frye at 852-7682. For information about reservations and group tickets, call the Belknap Theater box office at 852-6814.
