An Inherently Evil Act

Ohio State Murders – Goodman Theatre

A well-known author, Suzanne Alexander is revisiting the university she attended between 1949 and 1952. As one of the few African-American students during that turbulent time, Sue found campus life to be a lonely existence. She was forced into living a quiet, segregated, almost isolated life at Ohio State. Despite her appetite for reading classic literature and a gift for excellent writing, acknowledged by her English professor, Suzanne finds that declaring English as her major is met with derision and scorn. 

When Suzanne learns that she’s pregnant with Professor Robert Hampshire’s child, she’s taken in by her kindly Aunt Louise in New York. There, Sue gives birth to twin girls, and then decides to move back to Columbus. She takes a room in Mrs. Tyler’s boarding house while working part-time and continuing her literary studies. When one of the babies develops a cold Suzanne takes both of her daughters to see a doctor. It’s at this time that an inherently evil act is committed that will affect Suzanne’s entire life. 

Many years pass and Suzanne Alexander has become a notable author. Ironically, she’s been asked to return to her alma mater, this time as a celebrity. She’s been asked to talk to the students about her writing, particularly her motivation for employing such dark and disturbing imagery throughout her work. It’s at this moment in time, in the present, that Ms. Alexander begins her story. Now a middle-aged woman, the surviver of so much racism and tragedy, Suzanne becomes the narrator of Adrienne Kennedy’s 60-minute one-act. As her past comes to life, we meet young Sue as an eager college coed, discovering the joys of great literature and being encouraged to write. In addition, we become acquainted with her roommate and closest friend, Iris Ann; her quiet, inspiring Caucasian English professor, Robert Hampshire; Suzanne’s kindly Aunt Lou, Mrs. Tyler and David, the loving young writer she’ll ultimately marry.

Director Tiffany Nichole Green has shaped and guided Ms. Kennedy’s captivating one-act, the second installment of the Goodman’s 3-play LIVE Series. She skillfully brings out the quiet, more subtle moments, making the horror of the this drama even more shocking. Cloaked in shadows, thanks to Jason Lynch’s excellent lighting and Arnel Sancianco’s sparse set design, the bogeyman of racist America lurks everywhere. As Suzanne’s story unfolds, the author drops clues that foreshadow the gut-wrenching tragedy that will eventually unfold. The events of Suzanne’s youth will darken her dreams and color her life forever afterward.

Jacqueline Williams is superb as present-day Suzanne. She calmly and eloquently takes us on her character’s emotional journey, stopping now and then to drop in “postcard pictures” of herself as a young girl (played with charming subtlety by Eunice Woods). Shane Kenyon is quite authentic as the English literature professor, who brings the works of Thomas Hardy to life for his students. Dee Dee Batteast is very good playing Aunt Lou, along with two other empathetic roles, Destini Huston does a fine job as Suzanne’s friend, Iris Ann, and Ernest Bentley is caring and extremely likable as David.

The prolific Adrienne Kennedy’s plays are often encountered by would-be playwrights to be studied, rather than produced for the stage. Ms. Kennedy’s works are autobiographical, with many fictional embellishments thrown in. She calls her many plays, written over a 60 year career, “an amalgam of her life.” This particularly script has been reworked over the years and today it plays nicely as a streamed production. It’s a succinct, well-told thriller, and a look at how the shadows of racism darkened the life and career of one promising young writer.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Streamed June 17-20, as presented by the Goodman Theatre.

Tickets are available by going to www.goodmantheatre.org.

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