​Artist/author/director Julian Van Dyke has added a cinematic dimension to Act Free, his selection in Riverwalk’s series, Short Plays for an Antiracist Tomorrow by Idris Goodwin. Julian’s screenplay includes “on location” scenes that bring to life the rural farm setting of young slaves just finding out they’ve been free for a long time and didn’t know it. Two spirituals sung by Sounds of Blackness set the mood at the beginning and the end.

Kemar Williams is especially convincing and earnest as the deliverer of the news — provoking disbelief, confusion and discussion of what it means to “act free” among his enslaved friends James (Jay) Williams and Carrigan Van Dyke. Welcome these young actors to Riverwalk’s virtual stage.

This is short, as advertised, only about 10 minutes. Juneteenth is only 8 minutes. Black Flag is 23 minutes, and earns its time. I encourage you to go to Riverwalk’s Youtube channel and watch them all. Two more coming on the next two Mondays at 7. I found the picture quality to be noticably clearer on Youtube than it was on Facebook.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNn-HpMtd9r5EaIauCC6vCg

Wow — this little gem from Okemos High School is the fanciest show yet in our recent array of Zoom Box video substitutes for LIVE theatre. The Big One-Oh is a charming little musical based on the novel by Dean Pitchford about Charlie’s birthday party-planning adventures amid "monsters and maniacs” and other fun characters.

This has the feel of a real musical — complete heartfelt solos and big musical numbers and choreography. Lead “10 year old Charlie” was well played with boyish charm and a lovely singing voice by Miles Nowlin. Potential Friend Jennifer played by Olivia Parker was also outstanding. The whole cast of seeming thousands (15) was very good. (I particularly enjoyed Simon Rebeck’s “monster” portrayal.) 

Kudos to the “management” who made this video coalesce and “pop”: Director Chad Dekatch, Music Director Claire Belamy, Choreographer Karyn Perry (who proves you can dance from the waist up) Tech Director Matt Ottinger, Sound Engineer Brandon Hook, Producer Amanda Dekatch, Assistant Music Director Michaela Larson, Melinda Schultz Costumes and Props, and Lauren Schultz Student Assistant Director. (I don’t know if Melinda was also responsible for makeup, but the “monsters and maniacs” had some wonderful faces.)

Seriously, this is $5 well spent.

ONLY TWO SHOWS LEFT — TOMORROW, Saturday 11/14 at both 2:30 and 7pm
The Big One-Oh! Tickets:
All tickets - $5.00/household
Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.OKEMOSTHEATRE.com. 
If you have any questions regarding tickets please email us at mailto:[email protected].

Order tickets as soon as possible. I got my password email about an hour after I got my receipt for the $5. You will have a two hour window during which to watch this 25 minute show as many times as you want. And you really might want to watch it more than once; it’s adorable!

Another win for Riverwalk's compelling series Five Short Plays Toward an Antiracist Tomorrow! 

Like the first one (Nothing Rhymes with Juneteenth) “Black Flag” blooms under the directorial hand of Rico Bruce Wade, experienced producer, director, performer and writer. Camera placement and the direction of actors’ gaze defy the zoom boxes to create a sense of people in the same room. 

Again, a great cast. Michelle Clark is excellent in a nuanced role as the Black student with a southern white roommate (Amanda Victory) who displays the problematic flag. The always convincing Connor Kelly serves as a catalyst in this well written exploration of the roommates’ evolving relationship. (My only quibble was to wish Amanda had a more convincing southern accent. The rest of her performance was very good, especially for a professed “newbie.”)

This video is 22 minutes long, and has the “feel” of a real play, with three mini-acts. You can also find “programs” for these shows on Riverwalk's Facebook page, including bios.

This show, and the first (and eventually all five “Short Plays for an Antiracist Tomorrow") can be watched any time at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=riverwalk+theatre and also at the Riverwalk Facebook page where it may appear on the feed — or if not, pull down the “more” menu and choose “videos.”

Three more short plays being added the next three Mondays! Stay tuned…