A Raisin in the Sun, the seminal work of playwright
Lorraine Hansberry, tells the story of Walter Lee Younger and his family. Their
dreams and plans have been thwarted and yet a ray of hope remains in the form
of a life insurance check which could provide a new future for all of them. The
Indiana Repertory Theatre is producing the play just in time for Martin Luther
King Jr. Day and Black History month.
Tony Cisek’s incredible set design transports the
audience into Chicago tenements. There are worn rugs on the floor, holes in the
ceiling, and every rustic detail pulls us back into the 1950s. It takes a
moment to notice the second layer of the set. Three stories of staircases rise
up behind the apartment walls, simultaneously demonstrating the oppressive
nature of their situation and the hope of rising to a better future.
Kim Staunton is perfectly cast as the matriarch Lena. Her
performance gives the entire show an earnest and raw sense of urgency. She
seems the cracks in the relationships around her and is just trying to find a
way to hold her family together.
Dorcas Sowunmi plays Ruth, the disenchanted wife of
Walter Lee, and her exhaustion is palpable. Beneatha (Stori Ayers) is all sass
and ideals, just like any college student. Walter Lee (Chiké Johnson) dreams
big, but lives a life of frustration, beaten down by his circumstances and
failed endeavors. Each actor embodies their role wonderfully, making the
ensemble as a whole feel like a true family.
The work speaks for itself. Hansberry’s dialogue is
beautifully written and completely believable. The play is about hope and
heartbreak, trust and disappointment. It’s about the struggle to communicate,
between spouses, generations, genders, and cultures. These messages are
powerfully conveyed. It’s not an easy show to watch; though there are moments
of humor. But this seems like the perfect time to revisit the Younger family
and the story of a dream deferred.
Don't Miss the Show
The Indiana Repertory Theatre is located at 140 W.
Washington St., Indianapolis, one-half block west of the Circle Center Mall
between northbound Illinois St. and southbound Capitol Ave. The show runs until
Feb. 3 on IRT's OneAmerica Mainstage. Times for performances can be found at
www.irtlive.com or by calling the IRT box office at (317) 635-5252. To purchase
tickets call (317) 635-5252 or order online at www.irtlive.com
Photos courtesy of the IRT
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