This dramatic 2 ½ hour play is action-packed, as its actors brilliantly bring to life an era when the Congo achieved its first year of Congolese independence. Written by Aime Cesaire and directed by A. Rico Speight with Ezra Mabengeza in the starring lead role of the popular independence leader, Patrice Lumumba.
Lumumba strives to convince his countrymen that bitter strife between themselves is not the answer to controlling their destiny, while faced with rising turmoil from within and sabotage from abroad.
The epic production turns the pages on happening during the 1960’s, as the African country was gaining its independence over Colonialism. And, acast of 20 performers set each scene exact, dressed in periodic costume, while a musical dancer prances between scenes to capture the essence of emotion gripping the leaders. A whispering voice “buzzes” at the ending of each scene to give insight to the audience of pending doom and death for Lumbumba and his quest.
Large-screen video strongly interacts with the audience, as it highlights the drama by showing stage characters in epic black and white footage and lending even more reality to Congo’s documented fight for freedom. The actors are spirited and portray their roles with deep passion on a personal level with sensitivity and excellent timing.
The Martinique playwright Aimé Césaire was one of the leading surrealist poets of the 20th Century and a founder of the Negritude movement that laid the groundwork for the Black Power Movement in the United States in the 1960’s. Césaire wrote A Season in the Congo within a few years of the events it depicts. The play, in which the influence of both Shakespeare and Brecht are evident, has only been produced three other times in the United States. The original work was written by the late Martinician poet and political leader Aimé Césaire who died last year at age 94.
Actors:
Althea Alexis, David Arkema, Greg Bastien, Chiquita Camille, Sam Van Chama, Brandon Despain, Albert Eggleston, J. Hollingsworth, Jennier Joseph, Mark Lang, Lee Sebastianny, Quatis Tarkington, Adrain Washington.
Scenic Designer: Patrice Andrew Davidson
Light Designer & Light Technician: James “Prez” Carter
Custome Design: Zenola Norwood
Technical Director: Bill Glover
Stage Manager: Fulton C. Hodges
Wardrobe Mistress: Anna-Marie Lawrence
Production Assistants: Alvin Jowers and Chuck Lander
Volunteers for the evening:
Linda V. Bain
Akua Doreen Birringham
Francis L. Brown
Perry Gaffney
Deirdre M. McIntosh-Brown
Carolyn Ramey
Vera Williams
Volunteer Coordinator:
LaZette McCants
To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit: www.theatrerow.org or call 212-340-1121.
