THE BASICS: STEW, a drama by Zora Howard, directed by Curtis Lovell, starring Karen Saxon, Jacquie Cherry, Ember Tate, and Millie-Rae Rodriguez Spencer, presented by Ujima Theatre Company, 429 Plymouth Avenue in Buffalo, runs through March 27. Fridays – Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 4:00. (716-281-0092) ujimacoinc.org Runtime: 90 minutes, no intermission
THUMBNAIL SKETCH (adapted): It’s Saturday morning and Mama is up early to prepare a very important meal. Every year she feeds 50 people at her church. Even with her family on hand to help, time and tempers are running short before things come to a boil.
Mama (Karen Saxon) rules the roost which now includes three generations. Mama’s two daughters are 17-year-old Nelly (Ember Tate) and 30-something married daughter Lillian (Jacquie Cherry). Lillian has moved back home temporarily (she avoids giving details) with her children – pre-teen daughter, Lil’ Mama (Millie-Rae Rodriguez-Spencer), and son, Junior, who like Lillian’s husband, is referred to but unseen.
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: This March 2022 continues to offer superior theater with every stage delivering well-directed, solid performances of worthy plays. Adding to this Buffalo drama feast there’s a generous helping of STEW over on the Lorna C. Hill stage at Ujima Theatre Company.
Director Curtis Lovell (daughter of Ujima founder, the late Lorna C. Hill) went all out and designed a kitchen set chock full of interesting tchotchkes including my favorite, the wall phone with extra long cord.
Of late, Ujima’s sets have been serviceable, but minimal, with, for the past several plays, simply an upstage wall decorated by a few props. Not this time. Director Curtis Lovell (daughter of Ujima founder, the late Lorna C. Hill) went all out and designed a kitchen set chock full of interesting tchotchkes including my favorite, the wall phone with extra long cord. There are religious sayings on the wall, a plethora of pots and pans on the stove, a counter on which the actors cut up real vegetables, and even a working kitchen sink.
The direction is solid. Where’s there’s ambiguity, it’s purposeful, and things will be clear later. Where there’s rage, it’s not gratuitous. Even though we’ve never met these characters before, we believe in their motivations. And even though it’s a family drama, as with every family, there’s plenty of humor. There were lots of laughs from the audience the night we were there.
There are no stereotypes here. Each actor adopts the persona of the character so successfully that she can expand it, play with it, and add layers. There’s more to each character than meets the eye. Having said that, the garden-variety sibling rivalry between 30-something Lillian and 17-year-old Nelly adds some fun to the proceedings, and, some not-so-fun moments, especially when Nelly shoots off her big mouth (as younger siblings so often do).
Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If this sort of family drama is up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend, especially in the very comfortable newer seats in the theater.
*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.
TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.
THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.
FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!