Mar
Theatre Review: “The Power of One” at the IRT
Yesterday afternoon I drove downtown to see Milicent Wright’s one-woman history show, “The Power of One,” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. She was directed by Richard J. Roberts, who is also the IRT’s resident dramaturg.
In this engaging, company-created piece, Wright portrays three famous African-American women: Harriet Tubman in 1863 South Carolina, Madam C.J. Walker in 1918 Indianapolis, and Rosa Parks in 1956 Montgomery, Alabama. On Saturday afternoon, I felt as if I had actually spent time with these inspiring people. I leapt to my feet to applaud at the end.
The effectiveness of this show comes from a combination of Wright’s excellent acting and singing skills blended with a wealth of satisfying production elements.
There is only one actor on stage, and only three women telling their stories, but within those stories are many characters, each given a unique voice and stance by Wright. Each of the three main women sings in a way that is unique to her as well. Wright rarely stands still as she speaks: she plows, washes a customer’s hair, rides a bus, and more.
She retrieves props to help illustrate her storytelling from several boxes built into the stage floor as well as from a rolling cart and from the shelves at the back of the stage. The shelves become more display areas than holding areas as the eye follows them up. The set, designed by Fred M. Duer, includes several intriguing groupings of memorabilia: a cotton plant and collecting sack, an old-time radio, a manual typewriter, a canteen, maps, photos, newspaper clippings, and more.
The shelves near the floor also hold costumes for Wright to change into as she switches from one character to the next. We see her transform from the earthy Harriet Tubman to the elegant Madame C. J. Walker and later to the modest Rosa Parks not only through her changing dresses but also through her changing wigs, shoes, and other accessories. The way she holds her body and the way she speaks change at the same time. It is fascinating to watch these transistions. (Costume design by Christine Joern Martin.)
The lighting design by Betsy Cooprider-Bernstein and the sound design by Todd Mack Reischman add further layers to the storytelling. Two of the women dream of flying, and with the help of the lights, Wright really does seem to be moving through the air. Sounds such as a pig squealing or a telephone ringing or a bus fare clinking are also perfectly coordinated with Wright’s storytelling.
Mind you, this is not “storytelling” in the way that I usually think of storytelling. It is theatre. For me, the two art forms are related but different. Wright stops being herself and makes us believe that she is someone else, whereas oral tradition storytellers stay themselves as they share their stories. However, in this particular piece, the dividing line between storytelling and theatre is more blurred than ever. Wright becomes three other people…who are good storytellers.
In the post-show “talk back” session, Wright mentioned that thousands of students have been brought in on field trips to see this show during the week. Saturday’s audience, of course, was all ages. Several people sitting around me nodded in agreement when one audience member said that she had been most moved by Madame C.J. Walker quoting Mrs. Booker T. Washington: “Our motto must be ‘Lifting as We Climb.’” Each of these three women helped others even as she was working to help herself.
And, as the director says in the program notes, “none of these women started out with a grand design to change the world. Each took one simple step to improve her life, and then a step outside herself to help someone else. Not all of us will end up in the history books, but we can each take a step. One simple step. (We can ask ourselves:) What can I do to make the world just a little better today?”
Oh, my, this is an exhilerating show.
There are only two more chances for the public to see it: next Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 or 6:00 pm. It is presented on the IRT’s Upperstage. Please call 317-635-5252 to make a reservation. There is valet parking, but that is too rich for my blood. There is usually also metered parking available a block or so away. On weekends you do not have to feed the meter.
Hope Baugh – www.IndyTheatreHabit.com
