Ma Rainey’s Big, Black Bottom

Earlier this weekend a couple classmates and I took a trip to Homewood’s Carnegie Library to see August Wilson’s first Broadway play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Not knowing quite what to expect, I was eager to experience part of Wilson’s legacy. After all, I am working to preserve his memory; I should have a true sense of what that memory really is. What I saw helped bring into perspective the passion, art, and culture that makes August Wilson such a powerful figure to this day.

            The play itself was so full of ideas and emotions that it’s almost too much to try to absorb in one sitting. The cast and stage were quite small, but the characters that stood upon it had huge presence; quite fittingly, Ma Rainey was the biggest of them all. In harmony with the director Vernell Lillie’s vision, Ma Rainey (Teri Bridgett) controlled every second of her dealings with Mr. Sturdyvant   (Eric Leslie) by having a sharp mind and a stern foot, not by screaming him into submission. In sharp contrast, Levee (Herb Newsome) was too naïve to know how to deal with the racial inequalities of 1927, and lost control of everything.

            Whether it was through the immovable Ma, or the unstable Levee, Wilson’s portrayal of African American strife in the ‘20s was compelling. The play very obviously struck a chord throughout the entire audience. “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” stands as a testament, not only to the artistic ability of August Wilson, but to the determination of the entire black community. Hopefully, this determination will aid in preserving one of the most talented and distinguished playwrights of our time.

Note: “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” will be running next weekend (Thursday – Sunday) at the Homewood Carnegie Library. I recommend going to see it, especially if you haven’t had the chance to see a play from August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle. 

 

Dom DeBiasio