by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
PBTS opened its first play of 2008 with the Florida premier of Jacksonville playwright Al Letson’s Julius X. This remarkable and daring production will run through February l6th and is not to be missed. It combines Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar with a period in the life of Malcolm X in a manner that is truly unique. It is much easier to see and understand than it is to describe.
Important suggestion: If you are familiar with Shakespeare’s play and Malcolm X, great! Otherwise, a little Internet research into both will make the play a much richer experience for you and you will understand the parallels in their lives. You will recognize some of the words from Shakespeare as well as the language of the streets. The creative locutions of Al Letson are sometimes poetry and other times hip-hop.
The era is the l960s, Harlem, and the costume designs by Barbara Williams and Joanne Stovall reflect the era with men wearing hats, white shirts, ties and suits. Julius X (well portrayed by PBTS newcomer, Freddy Odinga Tripp) is getting to be a powerful leader as he strives for human and civil rights for Harlem Negros. Many of his friends and followers fear the direction he is leading them and they plot his death.
Featuring Larry Knight as Brutus, David Giard as Cassius and Eugene Lindsey as Casa, each performer gives an outstanding performance as the leaders of the pack who do the deed and kill Julius X. The remainder of the play has as the central character of Malcolm’s friend, Mark Anthony (in an equally strong performance by Steven Anderson), mourning the death and masterfully inducing the common folk to riot over the injustice of this murder.
Two women are important to the story and impact of the play. Deltoiya Monique is excellent as Calpurnia, Julius X’s wife. Miranda Lawson, already an established musical theater performer, continues to expand her acting resume with a fine performance as Portia, Brutus’s wife.
Remember the soothsayers in Shakespeare? Letson has six of them who not only act as a kind of Greek chorus, but bring furniture on and off with the grace of ballet dancers and with lots of flair. Lead by head soothsayer, Renee Freeman, they include Elizabeth Chesek, Nicole Muro, Jacob Fine, Julian Goldhagen and Luke Williams.
Ishmaal Muhammad acts as a narrator, talking directly to the audience as Cinna the Poet.
There are nine other cast members who do a variety of important roles, ranging from conspirators to Harlemites (residents of Harlem). Performing in perfect character were Curtis Ricks, Ryan Sinclair, Damon Clark, Lorenza Word, Denise Nicole, Shani Harper, Frazier Goode, Dominique Lawson and Sandy Dresner.
The fifteen scenes in this play flow seamlessly from one to another due to the efforts of the choreographers, Kellina Chavoustie and DeWitt Cooper III, and the evocative lighting of Technical Director David Paul.
You need to see this play so you can become acquainted with the marvelous work of Director Barbara Colaciello Williams who is currently Education Director of Players by the Sea. She brings a wealth of experience to the local theater scene. She and Letson work well together and have for several years. Ms. Williams helped develop and direct Letson’s entry in New York’s 2006 Fringe Festival: Griot: He Who Speaks the Sweet Word. You can get to know this talented lady up close and personal when she performs her one woman show Live on the Diagonal, February 29 through March 1 in the Players Studio Theatre.
The intriguing set by Barbara Williams and developed and painted by Ann Roberts, has what looks like mini Roman coliseum walls on right and a much used raised platform and stairs on the left.
Enjoy the talented Jacksonville native Al Letson, because I think he is on course to be very much in demand nationally. He was winner of the Public Radio Talent Quest and may be creating a national radio show in the future. The theater world is discovering “Julius X” and I predict that in February 2009, it will be done by a number of theatres celebrating Black History Month.
My only suggestion for this production is for most of the ladies to increase their volume on stage. They are surrounded by all those powerful male voices that tend to drown them out. I highly recommend “JULIUS X” as it is as challenging to the audience as to the actors. Due to the violence, I would leave the children at home.
For reservations call 249-0289 and visit their website www.playersbythesea.org,where you can see photos of this production.
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