You must hurry to the Claire Tow Theater at Lincoln Center on W 65th Street because you only have a short window of time to experience the brilliant work of African-American playwright Phillip Howze in his work “Six Characters,” which only runs through August 25th. This play starts off with a lot of humor and some very offbeat characters, but as it progresses, you realize that it has a very deep message that addresses the racism, devaluation, and disrespect that black people face in all areas of society, including the theater.
The audience is introduced to a group of actors who play the roles of Character 1, Character 2, Character 3, Character 4, Character 5, and Character 6. Through intense conversation, the playwright lets the audience witness how black people have been mistreated and devalued by society for so long that they have not only become accustomed to it, but sadly accept it and in some cases feel there is no way out. Even among ourselves, we find ourselves victims of denigration. The playwright dramatically shows that we fear the racism that comes at us from so many different directions. Also notable is that the character who seems to have a little power, the Director, is a huge Mussolini fan and actually imitates him by giving a speech in Italian.
One character, Sassy, represents a fiery black woman looking for respect and to be heard and valued. Another character, disguised as a police officer, is Sassy’s ex-boyfriend who hopes to get back into her life but is prevented from doing so by Sassy’s fears and needs. A character named Cat, a cleaner at the theater, is used to cleaning up the mess left behind by the actors, especially the director, but she also has a wise side and a vulnerability. Another character, Road, an enslaved person who found her way to the theater, realizes that times have not changed—we are still slaves to institutions and jobs. Another character, Newman, wants a career as an actor and is looking for leadership. The irony about the character of the director is that even though he is technically “in charge,” he fights for everything his company gets. He realizes that he essentially has to beg for the props and other materials he gets for a production, and that he has to keep an eye on the reactions of his white audience, because they have the money.
Howze deftly tells this story with a lot of heart and complexity while also making it a lesson in how things haven’t really changed. The cast is absolutely stunning. Julian Robertson as Character 1 (the director) delivers a funny, engaging performance. Claudia Logan, Character 2 (sassy), brings passion, humor, and intensity to her role, letting the audience see her sassy as well as her scared and vulnerable sides. Seret Scott as Character 3 (Cat, the cleaning lady) delivers a powerful, unforgettable performance that will leave an impression on your soul. Her frustration with cleaning up other people’s messes is palpable. Will Cobbs is wonderful as Character 4. He has great chemistry with Logan as they play the couple who were once very much in love trying to figure out what happened. CG plays Character 5 and Newman and it was unforgettable to watch her struggle to be taken seriously and understand the turmoil going on in the theater around her. Seven FB Duncombe plays character 6 (Road) and her performance was one of the most captivating as she maneuvered through the new society she traveled to, only to find that things haven’t really improved since the days of slavery. However, her character is a testament to the resilience of black people who survive no matter what because we stay true to ourselves and find ways to deal with the situation around us.
Director Dustin Wills has done a truly excellent job of crafting these actors, words and dialogue in a way that will keep the audience engaged and entertained, but also leave with plenty to think about. On the technical side, there is costumes by Montana Levi Blanco, lighting by Masha Tsimring, sound by Christopher Darbassie and stage management by Victoria Whooper. This play is definitely worth your time and attention. Some parts may make you uncomfortable and unsettled, but sometimes that’s what theater should do. For ticket information, visit www.lct.org.
