“Boulevard of Bold Dreams”

rating=4]Here we are- February is Black History Month and it won’t be long before we will be watching the Academy Awards to see who the winners will be. To “show-biz” types this is their “Super Bowl”!. So take these two events and put them together and you have the play that is now making its World Premiere at Timeline Theatre Company, “Boulevard of Bold Dreams”. This is a 100 minute ( no intermission) look at Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Oscar. Written by LaDarrion Williams this is a three person study that deals with many topics: race, gender, class and is set against the world of dreams that Hollywood was for many young people back in the late 1930’s and into 1940.

Many of you will not recognize the name Hattie McDaniel at all. In the film “Gone With The Wind” she played “Mammy”, and won the Academy Award for best supporting Actress. Being an African American during this period limited her roles in films, and being the first to be awarded for her talent was both an honor and in some ways a plague. The night was February 20th ,1940 in Hollywood. The set ( designed by Ryan Emens) for the play is a cocktail area in the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel. This is where the entire play takes place.

Ms McDaniel is there to accept her award, but is under a great deal of stress. First of all they are not allowing her to sit with her cast members, and secondly they have written her acceptance speech for her ( they are pretty sure she will win). Due to segregation, they have set a table up in the corner of the hall for her to sit at alone. When her name is called, she is to walk to the stage and say the words they have written for her and exit. Remember this is 1940!

Sharpley directed by Malkia Stampley, this is a look at history and while we are not sure of its accuracy, based on what I have read ( I was too young to watch back then), it seems right. In this sterling production , they do show us the actual video of her acceptance speech!

The characters in this play are Arthur Brooks (played to perfection by Charles Andrew Gardner) who is a bartender and helper for the event. He is one of those dreamers who left his home to seek the opportunities that Hollywood could bring him. Working with him, Dottie Hudson (Mildred Marie Langford) is also there for the same reasons. She is working as a maid in the hotel to keep her family afloat while she also waits for the big break.

While they are preparing for the big night and getting the extra pay they can make on a night like this, they are visited by Hattie McDaniel (Gabrielle Lott-Rogers is powerful in this role and one can feel the emotion as she takes on this immortal persona). Hattie doesn’t want to be segregated. She wants to say her own words. For most of the play we see these three talk about their lives, their dreams and of course, Arthur and Dottie feel the NEED for Hattie to take the Award and show the world that their people are worthy. For them, this could open many doors.

I must tell you that watching the scenes between these characters made me feel as if we were back in time and that I was the preverbal “fly on the wall” observing the back and forth conversations between these three people. It felt real and as if it were taking place right then. That makes this production very special. Watch the characters struggle with their dreams being quashed if she refuses the Oscar. The inner battle becomes part of all three of these characters lives, hopes and dreams.

The tech aspects of the show were very solid as well. Christine Pascual’s costumes were very 40’s, the lighting (Jason Lynch) and sound (Daniel Etti-Williams and Andre Pluess) perfect. Lonnae Hickman’s props , and there were many, flawless. There are two original songs in the show, “Moonlight” and “Call Girl” were written by Malkia Stampley (music) and LaDarrion Williams (lyrics). The recording produced by Pluess with Leandro Lopez Varady on piano. I must tell you that from the audience perspective, Ms Lott-Rogers appeared to be in control of the keyboards.

While this slick production will not appeal to everyone, I would think that those who love film, Hollywood, glamour and history will find this as educational as they do entertainment.

“Boulevard of Bold Dreams” will continue at Timeline Theatre Company located at 615 Wellington Avenue thru March 19th with performances as follows:

Wednesdays  7:30 p.m.

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  8 p.m.

Saturdays  4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sundays  2 p.m.

Tickets range from $42 and are available by calling 773-281-8463 ext 6 or online at www.timelinetheatre.com

For transportation and parking info visit www.timelinetheatre.com/timeline-theatre

For info on special events and discussions, visit www.timelinetheatre.com

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Boulevard of Bold Dreams”