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Regional Reviews: Phoenix The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae Also see Gil's reviews of We Ain't Ever Gonna Break Up: The Hymon & Parfunkel Musical, Ragtime and Six: Teen Edition
The Trial... is a courtroom fantasy where culture is put on trial, as two women from the past defend themselves against accusations from Victoria, a modern, successful Black professional who argues that the stereotypical portrayals of slave era characters in films and TV based on the two women have hindered her ability to be taken seriously by her peers and supervisors and to advance in her career. Are Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae to be blamed for the decades long stereotypical portrayals of the heavyset "Aunt Jemima" character who was often the cook and protector of the master's family and her promiscuous daughter who was often the willing sexual toy of the master? Or should the writers and directors who continued the trend of using these characters over multiple decades in the early half of the 20th century and the film and TV companies who funded the films and shows the characters were in shoulder the responsibility? Those are interesting questions and ones that Leslie manages to pose in an intriguing way. However, it's also often a one-sided case, since it's hard to blame two women from over a century ago for the impact that fictional depictions of their characters have had in films and TV on a modern-day woman when they weren't behind how those characters were portrayed. Because of this, the line of questioning for both the prosecution and the defense of the witnesses, including the white producer of one of the films that features the characters, the black man who was hired to assist with the writing, and the slave master of Mammy Louise and Safreeta, are often the same. Leslie does flesh out the three main characters in the piece to pull back the veil of stereotypes to show the truths and depth of character behind Mammy Louise, Safreeta, and even Victoria. The play explores how media portrayals of stereotypical characters contribute to the degradation of both genders and ethnic groups. However, Leslie avoids a simplistic approach by also examining the consequences of using blame as an excuse, particularly when people are too harsh in their judgments and disregard historical context or skirt over the facts of the situation. She also makes a case as to why the existence of these characters is important for individuals to have a way to look back on their past. The play was first produced in the 1990s but still is very relevant today and Leslie's ending packs quite a punch. Under David Hemphill's perfect direction, the entire cast shines. Lydia Corbin and Cynnita Agent are excellent as the lawyers for the prosecution and the defense, respectively, and Jessica Ortiz Sanroman, Kimberly Coleman, and Regina White shine as Victoria, Mammy Louise, and Safreeta Mae, instilling each woman with nuance, depth and realism. LaTraye Meredith is perfect as the no-nonsense judge, and Paul Perkins is wonderful as all of the witnesses, bringing a distinct and unique style to each. The judge's desk in Tiana Torrilhon's simple but effective wooden courtroom set also cleverly resembles the front of a slave ship, and Stacey Walston's lighting adds depth and nuance to the production. Carol Simmons' gorgeous costumes appropriately lean into the stereotypes of the characters, while Alfred Maldonado's sound design and Tiffer Hill's projections of film and TV clips of representations of the characters in question add a nice variety to the otherwise static production. While The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae may be slightly predictable, in a world where there have recently been some individuals who wish to rewrite our history books to remove factual evidence of African Americans, it's still incredibly very timely. With a cast of exceptional actors and smart direction, Black Theatre Troupe's production does an excellent job in demonstrating the important reminders that Leslie brings up in the play: It's necessary to remember the archetypical characters of our past while also needing to learn the personal, factual stories of the individuals they were based on and how the stories of those who came before us and what they did to overcome their struggles paved the way for the benefits and abilities we have today. The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae runs through September 22, 2024, at The Black Theatre Troupe, Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 East Washington Street, Phoenix AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.blacktheatretroupe.org or call 602-258-8129 Directed by David Hemphill Cast: |
