He Works Hard for the Money

Ride Share – Writers Theatre

In the third of three exceptionally fine virtual productions from Writers Theatre, this riveting, powerful one-man drama is the shining jewel on their crown. It’s a heartbreaking story told by Marcus, a 33-year-old African-American man, who’s just trying to make ends meet, earning a decent living and attempting to survive the hardships of the modern world. This 80-minute one-act, written by talented playwright Reginald Edmund, will captivate and hold your attention until the very last gut-wrenching moment.

A great deal of credit for this production’s power and success must also go to the incredibly gifted actor, Kamal Angelo Bolden. He brings so much to this role, running a whole gamut of emotion, and even showing off a few slick dance moves, as well. A combination of clever camera angles and the actor’s trained vocal skills create the illusion that there are other characters present, as well. With local credits from the Goodman and Victory Gardens Theatres, as well as having appeared all over the country, Chicago is fortunate to have this young man. Hopefully we’ll see a lot more of Mr. Bolden in the near future.

Edmund’s story is a character study about how a smart, resourceful, hard-working black American must often swallow his pride and endure demeaning situations, in order to persevere in a racist world. Marcus narrates his story while also acting out various episodes and events. He begins by telling us that he considers himself blessed to be happily married to a lovely lady named Joscelyn. He’s been a successful, white collar employee for ten years at a company, where he just brought in a multimillion dollar account. One day Marcus is summoned before the board, where he assumes he’ll be praised and rewarded for his exceptional genius. Instead, he’s told the company must downsize and he’s being let go. Marcus is understandably devastated; his severance package doesn’t reflect his worth nor the work he’s done over the years. So what’s he to do? He’s forced to reinvent himself, to work hard for his money as an Uber driver, simply to keep financially afloat temporarily. The stress, tension and insulting indignities Marcus must endure while working would try the patience of anyone. His experiences range from silly to soulful, from sexy to scary, with a jaw-dropping final payoff arriving in the final scene of this play. 

Mr. Edmund’s viral production is skillfully directed with so much heart and soul by the co-founder of Black Lives, Black Words International Project, Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway. The performance she extracts from her leading actor is astonishing. The presentation is like a short feature film, complete with atmospheric lighting, special effects and mood-enhancing sound. The multi-camera work is highly professional and the editing  polished and profound. Despite this being a one-person play, there are dozens of technical artists behind the scenes, supporting this production and bringing it to life.

While some viral productions are produced with a lack of creativity and craft, and feel more like an uninspired Zoom meeting, this exceptional third offering by Writers Theatre is wonderful. It’s entertaining and moving and just as powerful as any live production. The combined talents of  everyone involved in this presentation must be commended because they’ve brought thoughtful sophistication and a commanding drama to life for our entertainment and edification during this pandemic. Do not miss this moving event!

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented digitally June 23-July 25, and co-produced by Black Lives, Black Words International Project and Writers Theatre.

Tickets are available by calling the box office at 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.