“Red Summer” reviewed by Frank Meccia

[rating=3]This is my first time reviewing a play from MPAACT and from Governors State University Center for Performing Arts. This is not a university-based theatre company, this is a true Center of Performing Arts, that is supported by the National Endowment of the Arts, and the Illinois Arts Council, and all the actors are established Actors from the Chicagoland Area.

This is a world premier show, and one of the great things about a premiere show, changes are made to improve the timing, and script of a show. With original score and music, written by playwrights, Shepsu Aakhu, Andrew White, and Shawn Wallace, their 15 songbook credits really emphasized the meaning behind what happened in that week in 1919. Red Summer, pulls off the Band-Aid on one of Chicago’s ugly past. The summer of 1919 was the end of the first world war. Because of the great speech that Wilson gave at the time all races came together to fight for a just cause to save the world . After the war, France and other Countries bestowed great honors and medals to American Troops, and also to many African American Units, some of the famous ones were the 369th Inf Regiment, that received the highest honor the Croix de Guerre.

Many Blacks came back thinking that maybe small mind thinking in their own country has ended. But for the last ten years, their was a great migration from the south to the Midwest and North, of Blacks that was fueled by radical white groups that this migration will lead to loss of jobs, and homes, and safety. Riots took place in 38 cities all over the Country, with Blacks defending their homes in Washington D.C., and in Chicago. The kick off to the riots in Chicago was when a young Black man lying on a raft in Lake Michigan drifted over to the white side of the beach, and was stoned and drowned. This led to 7 days of arson, shootings and stabbings in both communities. The play deals with two soldiers returning from the horrors of war in France, Donald Winter played by Nathaniel Andrew and Connor Weir played by Ryan Huemmer, both from Chicago, and both believing that good changes can be made, except they are tested of the evils of that week. Weir’s younger brother Declan played by Alexander Slade is the instigator of causing lootings and arson in the city. With a cast of 23, and everyone with perfect singing voices the music helped relieve some of the discomfort of the time. But yet, 100 years later we are still seeing this in the city. Except now the city is gripped with violence within it’s own racial neighborhoods. This play makes you think about what has happened, and how are we ever going to see people for who they are, and not by the color of their skin. Melanie Victoria as Ida B. Wells sings a very powerful song with this in mind.

Set design really made an impact with the story, and Jessica Wardell really pulled it off. Everything was choreographed and timed perfectly in this show. My only complaint, 2 hours and 45 min is very long with a show, you’re trying to push too much info into a story line, like Stephan Sondheim, you can’t find your ending to the show.

Red Summer is playing till September 25th.

Friday and Saturday at 730,

Sunday at 2pm.

Tickets start at $30.00 to $57.00. And tickets can be bought online at CenterTickets.net or call 708-235-2222.

Governors State University is located about 45 min from Chicago, at 1 University Pkwy, Univerity Park

To see what others are saying,  visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Red Summer”.