One Cook Too Many
Reviewed 4/16/06
American
Menu
by
Don Wilson Glenn
Directed
by Ajene D. Washington
Black Theatre Troupe
The John Paul
Theatre at Phoenix College
(602) 252-8497 x 3
March 30th - April 26th, 2006
$26.00 - $32.00
Don Wilson Glenn’s American Menu has
some exciting possibilities as a script. Set in ‘bama in 1968, five
African American women are squeezed into the kitchen of a hometown diner
with the whites in the front, represented by the barely seen Confederate
stars and bars and the insistent hand ringing the bell and grabbing plates.
Here in this hot, frenetic, claustrophobic room, the five battle prejudice,
poverty, ignorance, and each other as they try to deal with the horrific
death the night before of a young man whose body was left in a ditch near
one of their homes. This has so much potential, but it also has a huge
requirement. A rapid fire delivery of lines is required for a production
of this script, and if one actress is off, the play suffers. In Black
Theatre Troupe’s production,
as directed by Ajene D. Washington, has run into the biggest
problem with this show: a floundering actress. In most other ways, the production
has a lot going for it: three strong performers; good emotionally raised
stakes; and consistent blocking. However, all it takes is one person who
doesn’t know their lines to make it an uncomfortable evening to sit
through. This is the case three weeks into BTT’s run.
The cause of the constant collapses in pacing and exposition? Clearly the weak link is Erline Patrick as the senior member of the group, Na. She has the look, and when she knows her lines, she can be incisive, but more often than not, she repeats her lines and looks expectantly to her fellow cast members to bail her out. They do, but at the expense of consistency, dramatic power, and personal connections. It’s not an ideal situation, and you can’t help but empathize with all around her.
Still, there’s strength from the others. Gwen Wright and Tonia Usher are hilarious as the feisty Johnnie Mae and country girl Mary accordingly. Both of them are completely in character throughout and enjoyable to watch. Carolyn Parson is in the more dramatic role of Martha, a pregnant mother on the edge of collapse. In this position, she does a strong job of pushing the play forward. Though a small role, Thomasina Daniels does a good job as the snooty, single-minded youth Buella, set on getting out no matter what it takes.
-30-
