| Jar the Floor – Generic Theater | | Print | |
| Written by James R. Johnson | |
| Sunday, 09 April 2006 | |
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While the house lights remained up, one could marvel at the set design. Creative while maintaining the cozy home feel, the set was full of character in and of itself. Soon the show began and I was not as prepared as I thought. The first act is a slice of life in the day of four generations of women on the birthday of the oldest. There were moments that the dialogue was missed because I was laughing too hard. The first act was a blur of hysterics and fun. Intermission left me wanting more, even though it was clear that more serious issues were to be tackled in the second act. And were they ever. I understood the need to resolve the many issues introduced in the first act, however, the second act seemed to last forever. Many points were repeated to the point of beating a dead horse. I spent as much time looking at my watch as the show. The second act could have been trimmed up drastically without affecting the rhythm or content of the show.
Throughout the production I could not believe the fantastic performances offered by MaDear (Pinkie Spencer Chappell) and Lola (Natalie W. Baker). Both performances were natural and true to life, subtle while portraying over-the-top. The character choices made solidified a performance that was seamless and utterly believable.
The lighting scheme bothered me at times. Being an indoor set, the lights were fairly straightforward. However, the lights on the front door and outside in the “garden” left odd shadows on the actors and at times left completely in the shadows. Other than off placement, the lights were good.
The director, Sharon Cook, illustrated in the director’s note the trepidation she felt upon taking the project, “Jar the Floor”. She immediately saw that the show seemed to “feed into the stereotypical perceptions of African-American women as being angry, aggressive, and argumentative”. Kudos to Ms. Cook for painting a portrait of a family beyond stereotypes. I did not see any troubles in an African-American household, but troubles in anyone’s home. I related to many issues discussed and saw my family members in the roles on stage. This production truly transcends race and cultural pretenses. The human nature and behavior illustrated is universal. The production is one not to miss. Just be warned that the second act is a little drawn out, but an accurate look at what happens when family comes together. The show runs through April 30th at the Generic Theater in Norfolk. |
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