Theater Review—

Well-Acted Roles & Timeless Themes Surround STW’s Latest Production

By June S. April

STAMFORD — A play that is well acted, with timeless themes that can apply to most cultures, is a pretty rare phenomenon.

Those qualities apply to the current production at Stamford Theatre Works. Though set in the 1950s, Lynn Nottage’s creation, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, addresses the difficulties of teenage relationships, grieving, societal values and emotional growth. Each is a heavy universal topics, but all are handled with sensitivity and humor (in appropriate situations) by Director Patricia Floyd.

Playing through February 15, this is a powerful play to bring teenagers to see. It is provocative and opens opportunities for discussion. With no blatant swearing and a minimum of groping, it is a comparatively safe production for younger audiences, say age 15 and up.

The cast of five is strong. The widowed father, Godfrey Crump, is responsively acted by Spencer Scott Barros. His character develops as the play moves forward. Like many black males, the inner rage at his being treated as if he were less than nothing occasionally erupts in anger, but he mostly manifests his frustrations by tightly controlling his daughters’ lives and blindly following the teachings of Father Divine, a religious leader of something called The Universal Peace Movement Mission.

Crump’s seductive sister-in-law, Lily, unexpectedly comes to live with him and his two adolescent daughters. She brings his ordered world into varying degrees of chaos. Filled with her own dashed dreams, yet holding ideals that she knows have merit, Lily and her behaviors become a source of both hope and frustration for the family.

Kimrie Lewis portrays the older daughter, Ernestine, as well as narrator of Crumbs... Ms Lewis portrays in her character a lack of self-confidence and shyness, yet there is also inner strength beautifully acted by this talented woman.

It was not surprising to learn that she is an honors graduate from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and the London Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.  Whether the playwright’s intent was to symbolically give her that name or not, earnestness does describe her persona.

In contrast, the younger sister Ermina is a spitfire. She challenges and is outwardly bold and typically teen in her behaviors, but her internal pain and fears are poignantly brought out by Roz Beauty Davis’ portrayal.

Both a humorous and poignant force in the play is Gerte Schulte. A Caucasian and a foreigner she is also a psychological casualty of World War II. With her unexpected meeting with and almost instantaneous marriage to Godfrey she brings another element of disenfranchisement to an already fragmented family.

Marlene Hodgdon’s German accent is flawless and her range of responses appropriately realistic. The Marlene Dietrich dream sequence is a real gem. The marriage to Godfrey Crump is an interesting attempt follow Father Divine’s marriage to a woman of another race.

It also brings out the question of how Crump fights back to a pre-Civil Rights society that shuns such a relationship. His motivation is open to many possibilities worthy of discussion. A racially mixed marriage is not an issue in European culture, as it is in this country, especially before the Civil Rights Movement.

Portraying an alcoholic can be a difficult job. It is easily overacted, but Kimberly “Q” (Lily), with the guidance of Director Patricia Floyd, finds a credible balance. The internal pain of this character is almost palpable. A smart, outspoken black woman who was shunned in her youth, Lily carries her branding as a cross, not unlike the protagonist of Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter). Lily is a role is rich with challenges to an actor, and full of issues that address race and women’s issues.

Color, via the costuming and the lighting, plays a major role in Crumbs from the Table of Joy. The collaborative efforts of costume designer Ashley McDonald, lighting designer Aaron Meadow and Ms Floyd used the color of the attire and the overall effects of lighting to visually describe the condition of the characters as the play evolves. Audiences should bring that awareness to their experience while watching this play.

The attention to music is also an important factor in the success of this production.

Once again Stamford Theatre Works is to be applauded for the excellence of its presentations. It’s a strong team that reflects the philosophy and talents of Artistic Director Steve Karp, who continues to nurture all those who work with him. It is a pleasure to observe what can happen when egos are put aside for a joint effort.

(Performances continue through February 15, with evening shows Tuesday through Saturday and weekend matinees. Tickets are $20 to $33, with discounts for seniors and students.

Call 203-359-4414 or visit www.StamfordTheatreWorks.org for full details.)