Taking a Moment to Breathe

Too Heavy for Your Pocket – TimeLine Theatre

In the early moments of Jireh Breon Holder’s old-fashioned period drama, set in 1961 Nashville, one of the four characters, about whom we come to care deeply, emerges from the darkness to simply spread his arms and breathe. His name is Bowzie and it’s his story that fuels this drama and shapes the path of Holder’s other characters. But in those first few minutes, and several times during the play, the two couples, who are best of friends, simply stop, step out of the story, and deeply inhale. These beautiful moments of solitude offer both the characters and the theatergoer a few seconds to come together for reflection.

Set in and around the worn but well-kept kitchen of the rented hovel belonging to Tony and Sally-Mae Carter, we meet the hard-working laborer and his pregnant young wife. Sally-Mae is glowing because she’s about to graduate from beautician school. Tony is working long hours and extra jobs in order to provide for his baby daughter.

The Carters’ close friends, Bowzie and Evelyn Brandon, are at the house to support Sally-Mae and celebrate her achievement. Evelyn is a singer at the local juke joint, while Bowzie, a smart, hard-working breadwinner, is impatiently waiting for word that he’s been accepted into Fisk College, possibly with a full scholarship. When Bowzie’s dream finally comes true, he feels out of place among the other wealthier students. Suddenly he finds himself drawn into the campus civil rights movement. Bowzie decides, against the wishes of his wife and friends, to take a break from his studies, put his own advancement on hold and join forces with the Freedom Riders.

Holder’s play, superbly directed by Ron OJ Parsons, is a rare look at class differences within the African American community. Tony and Evelyn are appalled that Bowzie would even consider giving up his hard-earned scholarship, in order to pursue such a lofty goal as Civil Rights. But Sally-Mae is Bowzie’s sole ally. She supports his decision to participate in something that will benefit many others, while still nurturing his own heart. She alone understands that money and status aren’t everything.

Mr. Parsons has beautifully guided his cast in creating a group of authentic, flesh-and-blood individuals. His stage pictures are especially gorgeous, often framing individual actors and couples in a pool of light. Holder’s play sometimes brings to mind another play that TimeLine produced in recent years, “A Raisin in the Sun.” The theme of bettering oneself and risking everything for the good of others is also common in the plays of August Wilson. This new play feels fresh and filled with drama, but with an air of optimism that shines just beyond reach. At times the story seems a little melodramatic, but Parson’s direction keeps these characters realistic.

The entire cast makes their TimeLine debut with this production. Commanding the stage in every role she undertakes, Jennifer Latimore is brilliant as Sally-Mae. This lovely young actress is truly the heart of this production. With her luminous smile and charming personality, Ms. Latimore portrays a character who radiates nothing but warmth, goodness and love. Ayanna Bria Bakari is spirited and spunky as Evelyn. She provides the spit and vinegar among this quartet of friends. Ms. Bakari’s musical talents are given full display in her spirited renditions of several gospel songs, as well as in her eleventh hour emotional performance at the juke joint. 

Cage Sebastian Pierre, a gifted master actor with the Q Brothers’ fast-paced productions, is tough and dynamic as Tony. When Pierre’s hardened facade crumbles near the end of the play, his Tony breaks the theatergoer’s heart. And Jalen Gilbert, such a powerful presence in Writers Theatre’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” creates a magnetic, empathetic character as Bowzie. If Ms. Latimore is the heart of this production, Mr. Gilbert is its soul. Through his eyes we experience the tumultuous journey of all four characters.

This awesome, highly engaging and enjoyable new human drama, set against the Civil Rights movement of the early 1960’s, is both hard-hitting and heartbreaking. Staged upon Jose Manuel Diaz-Soto’s lovely, detailed scenic design, with grass carpeting both indoors and out; lit with brilliance by Maggie Fullilove-Nugent, and costumed with care by Alexia Rutherford in her splendid colorful period frocks, this production marks the Chicago debut of Jireh Breon Holder, a young playwright to watch for in the future.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented April 24-June 29 by TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the door, by calling 773-281-8463 or by going to www.timelinetheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.