Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatre
  • Announcements
  • Events Calendar
  • Auditions
    • Audition Calendar
  • Reviews
  • Theatres
  • About the G.L.U.T.
    • E-mail List
    • Contact

Review: Baltimore (MSU)

10/4/2015

0 Comments

 
Kirsten Greenidge’s BALTIMORE tackles the multi-faceted and ever-evolving issues of race relations and social justice in a creative and mind-opening way. It is the second work in the Big Ten Playwrighting Initiative: a series of plays commissioned from outstanding American female playwrights featuring large casts and outstanding, age-appropriate roles for young women. 

This remarkable script defies, embraces, and juggles stereotypes and points of view in a way that honors the complexity of today’s race relations. It takes it’s title from Countee Cullen's poem, “The Incident," describing a young boy’s lengthy trip to Baltimore, where all he remembers is being called a racial epithet. This show’s "incident” is a white girl posting a “humorous” black-face caricature on a black girl’s dorm door. How do the students/resident assistant/dean react? Be sure to read the Director’s Note and the Dramaturg’s Note, which illuminate and provide more interesting background. 

The whole cast did an admirable job, but I was most impressed with Christi Thiboedeau as “Fiona,” the source of the offensive/humorous picture, and Imani Bonner as “Shelby," the confused, frustrated Resident Assistant caught in the middle, struggling with the challenge of making something better out of the “mess” of history. There are no easy answers offered, but the stage is set for dialogue, both literally and figuratively.

The high tech Studio 60 black-box stage offers creative lighting and projection capabilities that enhance and move the story. We attended most of the “talk-before” with Director Joni Starr, who told us the projections came with the script as they are integral to the show (media designer Rainie Jiang.) The unsettling drumbeat music added mood and tension (Chelle Peterson, sound design). The show is somewhat less than 90 minutes, with no intermission.

Studio 60 is in the basement of MSU’s Auditorium Building on the corner of Farm Lane and Auditorium Road. Tickets are available from the Wharton Center Box Office; 1.800.WHARTON; www.whartoncenter.com. And you can get tickets on the Farm Lane lobby box office and walk downstairs to just beyond the Arena stage in the basement.
General Admission $15. Faculty & Seniors $13. Students $10

Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 7:30pm
Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 7:30pm
**Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 7:30pm
Friday, October 9, 2015 at 8:00pm
Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 2:00pm
Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 8:00pm
Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 2:00pm

 ** Post-Show Discussion on Thursday, October 8, 2015 (Following the Performance)
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Reviews

    Read more about Jane and the creation of the G.L.U.T. on the "About G.L.U.T." page.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    All Of Us Express Children's Theatre
    All-of-Us Express Children's Theatre
    Blue Light Players
    Grand Ledge HS
    Homegrown Productions
    Ixion Ensemble
    LCC Dept. Of Theatre
    Mid Michigan Family Theatre
    MSU Dept. Of Theatre
    MSU Summer Circle
    MSU Summer Circle Theatre
    MSU Summer Circle Theatre
    Okemos HS
    Over The Ledge
    Owosso Community Players
    Peppermint Creek Theatre
    Peppermint Creek Theatre
    Renegade Theatre Festival
    Riverwalk Theatre
    Riverwalk Theatre
    Starlight Dinner Theatre
    The Studio Performing Arts Center
    Wharton Center (MSU)
    Williamston Theatre

    Post Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.