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THEATRE REVIEW: WTF’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ could use more heart, optimism

Much in the story has always been harsh and defiant, but there has always been a good amount of old-fashioned heart in the play and that seems to be missing here.

A Raisin in the Sun
By Lorraine Hansberry
Directed by Robert O’Hara

“I live the answer!”

This is a classic American play, produced almost more times than you can count, revived, filmed, televised, exported and revived again. The version onstage at the Williamstown Theatre Festival is the least-often produced, one with an extra character and some additional bits, played in two instead of three acts and, in this instance, somewhat reimagined to include a character onstage, actually speaking lines, who isn’t acknowledged in the program. Conceived as a ghost or the vision of Lena Younger, matron of the Younger family, only she can see him and physically acknowledge him. He must be a ghost, for he has been forgotten or ignored by the company. I believe him to be a figment of the director’s imagination and he should have remained just a figment, for my money.

When a play is this well-known, it is hard to take its forkfuls of sentiment and political rhetoric with a slotted spoon, but that is what has happened here. The actors are all well-chosen and well-directed, though the optimism in this retelling of author Lorraine Hansberry’s own family story has been replaced with a harder overview. Much in the story has always been harsh and defiant, but there has always been a good amount of old-fashioned heart in the play and that seems to be missing here. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the new visual ending, which is a historically accurate picture of the times,] but is nevertheless disturbing, replacing the forward outlook Hansberry provided with pessimism and heartbreak that director Robert O’Hara has imposed.

In this day and age, when our sitting government seems intent on a return to the days when this play was written, it is a logical message to send to an audience, but with so much on television and in the press on a daily if not hourly basis, it would have been just fine to let the playwright, clearly one of America’s most treasured, leave us her own vision of a future that is now eluding us. We know where things are headed; we need our optimism back and this production is denying us that privilege.

Francois Battiste as Walter Lee and S. Epatha Merkerson as Lena in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of ‘A Raisin in the Sun.’ Photo: Joseph O’Malley

The Youngers live in the squalor that they can afford, an apartment on Chicago’s South Side that Lena and her family have occupied since she first married. Her son, Walter Lee, wants out and he wants it on his own terms. His mother is about to receive $10,000 in life insurance and he want to invest it, with two friends, in a liquor store. She, on the other hand, wants to buy a suburban house for her family and help her daughter with her medical education. This quarrel is at the center of the play’s conflict. Mother and son want the same thing but want it from different directions and sources. He, a chauffeur for rich white folks, is losing his sense of manhood and superiority and he needs back his self-assurance as much he needs money to acquire it. Francois Battiste in a Chicago black accent is so angry that he is literally almost not understandable as he rants his way through his lines. He has wonderful moments, but he has not as yet found a solid, consistent performance.

S. Epatha Merkerson, however, as his mother, Lena, has hit her stride, turning in an even-handed and sturdy interpretation that could use a bit more fire, a bit of Battiste’s understandable rage. Her Lena is the sweetest woman, a mother with so much understanding that she can forgive her children everything. She is lovely, loving and lovable, and she expresses disappointment and disapproval nicely, but when Lena has to deal with her son’s betrayal of her trust, she is too conciliatory to be believed completely. Lena’s love and her belief in the future is what drives this play, not Walter’s anger, but Merkerson almost gives it up to Battiste—almost, but not quite.

Mandi Masden as Ruth and Nikiya Mathis as Beneatha in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of ‘A Raisin in the Sun.’ Photo: Joseph O’Malley

Ordinarily in productions of this play, the lightness comes from Walter’s sister, Beneatha, a college student whose ardent reactions to things are as comic as they are heartfelt. She has two boyfriends: an Ethiopian who wants to marry her and whisk her away to Africa and a wealthy black Chicagoan who takes her on expensive dates and tries to upgrade her attitude and her mindset. While all of this still exists in the play, Beneatha is a bit more hostile than usual (she always argues with her brother) and that colors all of her reactions to the world around her. Nikiya Mathis is a fine Beneatha, except she shouts a bit too often for my taste. Diana Sands, who originated the role, later became a friend of mine, and my mind and heart are still literally filled with her voice and her talent and no one will ever be able to replace her in this role, not for me.

Mathis does a fine job in this production and she is wonderful in her scenes with her African prince Asagai, played with handsome charm by Joshua Echebiri. He provides Mathis with the perfect swain: a bit too overpowering, but still romantic and not really pushy, and ardent but not possessive. He makes it easy to see why Beneatha might consider leaving her argumentative family and Ruth, the sister-in-law she loves, for the adventure of an African life.

Mandi Masden as Ruth and Kyle Beltran as George in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of ‘A Raisin in the Sun.’ Photo: Joseph O’Malley

As George Murchison, her other suitor, Kyle Beltran turns in a fine performance. He is not the romantic figure that Asagai is, but he has charm and a directness that is effective in his pursuit of the girl. Beltran’s George is obviously seeking a wife and he will pursue this one in every way until she must give in to his wishes. It’s a very honest portrait of the man and I enjoyed it very much.

The representative of the all-white suburb Lena wants to move into is played by Joe Goldammer in a very solid performance. His second scene is particularly effective.

In the role not usually seen, Mrs. Johnson, a neighbor whose gossipy, grasping personality adds little to the play but is fun to watch, is very well-played by Eboni Flowers. Her intrusion on the difficult proceedings involving the family’s impending move breaks up the drama and brings a touch of sardonic humor into the works, which was very much appreciated.

Travis, Ruth and Walter Lee’s son, was played by Owen Tabaka, whose professional experience on the stage in New York pays off in this role. Not whiny in the least, he holds his own among the adult company and gives some focus to Lena’s yearning for something solid to create for her family.

Francois Battiste as Walter Lee and Mandi Masden as Ruth in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of ‘A Raisin in the Sun.’ Photo: Joseph O’Malley

For emotional flexibility and pure character creation, no one in this company delivers more perfectly than Mandi Masden as Ruth Younger. She is nothing short of compelling. Every movement, every word, every gesture and every emotion is played with complete immersion into the character. In spite of being pretty, I don’t think I’d recognize her outside of the character she was so involved with, with what she was doing, who she was being. I don’t use the term “consummate actor” often, but I think it applies in this case. It’s either that or she has actually lived this life before and is just repeating it on a stage for the heck of it. I’m going with my first impression, though, and not this latter one.

The production team has done a fine, fine job for this play. Set in the living room/kitchen of the Younger apartment, the set by Clint Ramos tells us everything we need to know about the family’s financial status. Alice Tavener’s clothing makes everyone look as good as their economic functionability will allow. The lighting by Alex Jainchill certainly sets the time, the mood and the place. The sound design by Elisheba Ittoop was uneven, often too loud. Robert O’Hara’s direction served his own vision as well as the play, his vision often winning, and I am not happy with that vision for this play. Still, he had exceptional people to work with and they have served him very well, allowing what he wanted to be seen to be seen without a doubt.

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A Raisin in the Sun plays on the main stage at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance at Williams College, 1000 Main St., Williamstown, Massachusetts, through Saturday, July 13. For information and tickets, see the Berkshire Edge calendar, call the box office at (413) 458-3253 or go to wtfestival.org.

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