Watching Them Squirm

Stick Fly – Writers Theatre

During the 2011-2012 Broadway season, New York saw the arrival of three important plays. What made them especially significant and historically groundbreaking is that this trio of dramas were all penned by African-American women. They included Suzan-Lori Parks’ reworked production of “Porgy and Bess,” Katori Hall’s “Mountaintop” and Lydia R. Diamond’s “Stick Fly.” This particular play has enjoyed a couple other Chicago productions before this revival in Glencoe. Another play by Ms. Diamond, the highly-respected production of “Smart People,” was seen at Writers Theatre just two years ago, so it makes sense for Resident Director, Ron OJ Parson, (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “East Texas Hot Links”) to helm this new regional production.

The LeVay family is an upper-middle class African-American family living in a beautifully designed and decorated oceanside mansion on Martha’s Vineyard. Anticipating a relaxing summer weekend, the family patriarch, Dr. Joe LeVay, opens his home to welcome his sons Flip and Kent, along with their respective girlfriends, Kimber and Taylor. The doting Mrs. LeVay is mysteriously missing from the festivities, as is the family’s African-American maid, Miss Ellie. Instead, she’s sent her teenage daughter, Cheryl, to buy the groceries, cook the meals, keep the house clean and the glasses filled.

A soap opera-like play, Ms. Diamond’s drama is a curious blend of romantic complications, cultural conversations and unexpected comedy. She mixes sex and sociology, intrigue and entomology, in an often unusual way. The title of the play comes from an explanation by Taylor, a young woman with a passion for collecting and studying insects. She describes how, in order to study the wing movements of the common housefly, scientists will glue them to a popsicle stick and then watch them squirm. This is precisely what the playwright has rendered in her play. Each of the characters is stuck at the New England summer home for two days, where arguments ensue, secrets are revealed and lives are changed. The audience observes with a degree of fascination as each character writhes and agonizes under our watchful eye.

David Alan Anderson, who returns to Writers Theatre after his powerful performances in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Witch,” rules over his family and their guests with an iron hand. A respected, comfortably wealthy, all-controlling neurologist, Dr. Joe LeVay is never shy about making his views cystal clear on any subject. He dominates his seaside domain and keeps everyone, including the family’s substitute weekend housekeeper, in their place.

Joe’s two sons are, in many ways, as different from each other as day and night. Flip, played with an air of obnoxious, macho superiority, is truly his father’s son. Making his Writers debut, everything DiMonte Hennig says and does as this character is a reflection of his dad’s attitude about life. He’s domineering with his younger brother and, especially, with women. The elder son’s misogynistic treatment of females, even toward his unseen mother, is revolting and frightening, at times. Younger brother Kent, nicely played by handsome Eric Gerard, has been nicknamed “Spoon,” by his girlfriend. He’s an up-and-coming author, about to see his first novel published. He’s more sensitive and able to observe every side of a situation, particularly from a woman’s point of view. As such, he’s belittled by both his father and, sometimes, his older brother. Joe says that the money he spent on Kent’s college education was wasted, now that he’s decided to be a writer; and Kent tries throughout the play to win his father’s approval.

But the most powerful performances, particularly because of how Ms. Diamond has written their characters, comes from the three women in this cast. Ayanna Bria Bakari, so moving in the recent Writers Theatre production of “The Niceties,” offers another powerful performance as Cheryl. We first meet this attractive, spunky young girl as the lights come up, dancing around the ocean house while removing the dust covers from the furniture, stocking the pantry with food and making sure everything’s in order for the LeVay family’s visit. While subbing for her mother as the weekend maid, Cheryl makes some earth-shattering discoveries about her life. Without giving away too much, know that this young actress is the focal point of this play. And the talented Ms. Bakari is absolutely stunning in this role.

As Taylor, lovely Jennifer Latimore also returns to Writers Theatre, where she impressed audiences and critics with her stellar performances in two recent classics, “Twelfth Night” and “The Importance of Being Earnest.” This gifted actress proves that she’s equally adept at portraying contemporary characters, as well. Playing an intelligent, highly-opinionated young science student, Taylor seems to have a chip on her shoulder and isn’t afraid to express her disgruntlement to anyone about everything. In this new role, Ms. Latimore is sensational. Bitter about a father who abandoned her mother for a life with a new family, she must live in the shadow of this renowned Black Historian, despite never having really known him. Like Cheryl, Taylor also sees the LeVay men for what they are: cocky, arrogant, self-entitled men who think of no one but themselves.

Flip’s girlfriend of the moment is Kimber, an educated white woman, who works with inner city students to help improve their lives and views about race. Kimber, we learn, is also from an affluent family background and has never wanted for anything. She harbors a jealousy over her older sister, but is otherwise comfortable in her own skin. Making her auspicious Writers Theatre debut, Kimber is played with humor and sophistication by Kayla Raelie Holder. Although Flip says she’s Italian, and calls her “melanin-challenged,” Kimber is simply a WASP with an affection for the wealthy, young plastic surgeon. Over the course of the weekend, Ms. Holder’s character gets into some pretty heated discussions with the family over privilege, culture and race, especially with Taylor.

Ron OJ Parson has kept his production tight, sizzling and dramatically moving, despite a script that feels chopped up with too many scenes. The play runs almost three hours, but Act II is certainly the most entertaining, what with all the cryptic discoveries and explosive acknowledgements. Linda Buchanan’s gorgeous, elaborate scenic design sprawls between a sunken living room, a realistic, practical kitchen, a stairway rising up to the bedrooms and a rustic, wooden outdoor deck. Exceptional details abound, like bookshelves laden with books, a sailboat slowly passing by the windows and sunrises and sunsets that happen in real time, thanks to Claire Chrzan’s lovely lighting design.

Lydia R. Diamond’s play is entertaining. It’s laced with serious conversations and debates, alternating with unexpected moments of comic relief. The plot seems overstuffed with too many intricate discussions about race, culture and entitlement. However, it’s also an interesting look at upper-middle class African-American families. Unfortunately the play often comes off more like a soap opera-like melodrama, than an honest drama, making it a little difficult to take very seriously.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas            

Presented February 5-March 15 by Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, IL.

Tickets are are available in person at the box office, by calling 847-242-6000 or by going to www.writerstheatre.org.

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