| The Congo Square Theatre Company
has mounted a bravura production of the
great Langston Hughes’ vision of Black
spiritual devotion. This large cast
illuminates the stage with layers of dancing,
singing, preaching and history.
Africa is evoked by magnificent
drummers and dancers who suggest the
African influences on the philosophical
and spiritual developments that came later
in the Bethlehem and Nazareth of Jesus in
what is now northern Israel.
Dancing into
the modern era, Black Nativity portrays
such masters of gospel and spirituals as
Mahalia Jackson, the Clara Ward Singers,
Rev. James Cleveland and the Five Blind
Boys of Alabama.
Their song repertoire includes the
enduring classics: Deep River, Go Tell it on
the Mountain, Magnify His Name, Take Me
to the Water, Soon One Morning Peace, Be
Still and Dancing Shoes.
The songs have
fine soloists and magnificent choral
arrangements. The dance accompaniment
is electrifying and profound. Perhaps only a
secular intellectual such as Langston Hughes
could have woven this majestic tapestry of
faith, joyful sounds, history and humor.
The company is equal to Hughes’ vision.
The direction and choreography by Mike
Malone has the players singing and dancing
with supernatural energy. Reggie Ray’s
costumes are a feast for the eyes.
The dancers, Heather Beal, Tracey
Franklin, Keith Givens and Courtney
Smith are onstage for extended sequences,
radiating skill and charisma.
The singers
are Dawn Bless, Tory O. Davis, G. Carlos
Henderson, Herbert Porter, Cherisse Scott,
Malkia Stamplehy, Jesse Dean Stanford,
Levi Steward, Amber Whitted with Shaun
Scott drumming and Mahmoud Khan on
the keyboards.
Black Nativity will be performed through
December 31. The performances are at the
Chernin Center for the Performing Arts in
the Duncan YMCA at 1001 W. Roosevelt
Road; phone 773-296-1108, fax 773-472-
6637, www.congosquaretheatre.org.
Mike Cook is a North Lawndale
resident and NLCN’s theatre critic. To
comment on this article visit our weblog
at: www.nlcn.org |
Friday, September 3, 2010 
