Review by: Kendra Plant
Monday, March 14, 2016
Monday, March 14, 2016
Twin Cities playwright Christina Ham's new play Nina Simone: Four Women premiered this weekend in Saint Paul. I'm a big fan of her plays and make it a priority to see her work, which is often historical fiction set in the South. Nina Simone plays through March 26, 2016.
Regina Marie Williams plays musician Nina Simone. Photo credit: Tom Wallace.
This music-infused drama features Ivey Award-honored actor Regina Marie Williams as musician Nina Simone. This iconic singer and songwriter's life and music takes stage including live performances of "Mississippi Goddam," "Go Limp," and "Young, Gifted, and Black" and the title song, "Four Women." The cast includes Aimee K. Bryant, Thomasina Petrus, Traci Allen Shannon and is brought together artfully by director Faye M. Price. They certainly put on a show for their audience, which was a full house when I attended. The music expresses the four women's heartache and frustration but is also used as a vehicle to bring them together and share the burden of their grief.
Consider that this is all set right after the infamous 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. And Nina Simone isn't Ham's first exploration into the aftermath and meaning of this violent event. Her play Four Little Girls, commissioned by Saint Paul's own SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development in 2009, centered around the four young black girls killed in the bombing and their dreams about their future. These four girls are referred to often in Ham's script and their presence was palpable throughout the performance. In a 2016 world where violent acts occur with frightening regularity, my tears fell down hot and angry that not enough has changed. And we still have to remind the media, the government, and the public that #BlackWomensLivesMatter. Too slow, as Nina Simone might say.
Consider that this is all set right after the infamous 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. And Nina Simone isn't Ham's first exploration into the aftermath and meaning of this violent event. Her play Four Little Girls, commissioned by Saint Paul's own SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development in 2009, centered around the four young black girls killed in the bombing and their dreams about their future. These four girls are referred to often in Ham's script and their presence was palpable throughout the performance. In a 2016 world where violent acts occur with frightening regularity, my tears fell down hot and angry that not enough has changed. And we still have to remind the media, the government, and the public that #BlackWomensLivesMatter. Too slow, as Nina Simone might say.
"I think I was hoping to make sense of this tragedy so that I wouldn't have to do it alone." —Nina Simone from "Nina Simone: Four Women"
The question is asked, "what role does an artist have in turbulent and violent times?" Ms. Simone feels compelled to react to the Civil Rights Movement and the segregated political climate. She is keen to take advantage of her role as a musical artist who has the ear of audiences, even if the audiences want something safer like old standards. Many performing artists and arts venues will feel this is a familiar quandary. But Ms. Simone is less concerned with the comfort of her traditional audiences and more concerned with ending injustice.
“Music can’t just be about the art...it has to be an expression of the good, bad, and ugly in life.” —Nina Simone from "Nina Simone: Four Women"
Playwright Christina Ham @hamletteneggs & Regina Marie Williams celebrate at NINA SIMONE opening night #MYSAINTPAUL pic.twitter.com/NmpRz0OawM
— Park Square Theatre (@ParkSquare) March 12, 2016
This performance is a reminder (or a wake-up call, depending on the individual in the theater seat) that when social justice work is done without a progressive view of intersectionality people get left behind. Ms. Simone asks why women aren't allowed to march with Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Civil Rights Movement's march and then points out that women's liberation movement has made it clear that it is for white women with white women problems. Black women were fighting oppression and injustice in their personal lives and then were also marginalized by the movements that should have been supportive and empowering.
I don't often give standing ovations at theatrical performances, because then when I do see something unbelievable outstanding, how can I show my appreciation and desire for similar work? I stood with the rest of the audience at yesterday's matinee performance and I don't think I've ever meant it more enthusiastically. I recommend clearing your schedule and getting your tickets in advance, because this is a performance where the artistry and the story will stick with you.
Nina Simone is performed on the new stage at Park Square, the Andy Boss Thrust, in the basement of the historic Hamm Building that is also home to the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. It is a fitting coincidence since from a young age Ms. Simone trained to be a classical pianist and adored the work of Johann Sebastian Bach. Until yesterday I had never experienced a play at Park Square Theatre, so I was excited to try this venue out for myself. I was pleased with the intimate u-shaped audience configuration and I found the seats to be super comfortable and they even had beverage holders.
The lobby was spacious and included a concession stand, show related art, and a timeline surrounding the events of the play. You can get a more comprehensive behind the scenes look at the rehearsal process for Nina Simone from dramaturg Gina Musto on her blog, The Room Where it Happens.
There will be another chance for you see to Ham's historical fiction come to life on stage: Scapegoat premiers at Pillsbury House Theatre in May. Every single performance of Scapegoat will have pay what you want pricing.
Tickets:
Tickets prices are $40 and $60. Discounts are available for seniors, college students, those under age 30, and groups.
Best Ticket Deal: "Pay What You Will Wednesday"
Use code: P15 for $15 tickets
Remaining Dates:
3/16 at 7:30PM
3/17 at 11:30AM and 7:30PM
3/18 at 7:30PM
3/19 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM
3/20 at 2:00PM
3/22 at 10:00AM
3/23 at 7:30PM
3/24 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM
3/25 at 7:30PM
3/26 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM
I don't often give standing ovations at theatrical performances, because then when I do see something unbelievable outstanding, how can I show my appreciation and desire for similar work? I stood with the rest of the audience at yesterday's matinee performance and I don't think I've ever meant it more enthusiastically. I recommend clearing your schedule and getting your tickets in advance, because this is a performance where the artistry and the story will stick with you.
Nina Simone is performed on the new stage at Park Square, the Andy Boss Thrust, in the basement of the historic Hamm Building that is also home to the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. It is a fitting coincidence since from a young age Ms. Simone trained to be a classical pianist and adored the work of Johann Sebastian Bach. Until yesterday I had never experienced a play at Park Square Theatre, so I was excited to try this venue out for myself. I was pleased with the intimate u-shaped audience configuration and I found the seats to be super comfortable and they even had beverage holders.
The lobby was spacious and included a concession stand, show related art, and a timeline surrounding the events of the play. You can get a more comprehensive behind the scenes look at the rehearsal process for Nina Simone from dramaturg Gina Musto on her blog, The Room Where it Happens.
There will be another chance for you see to Ham's historical fiction come to life on stage: Scapegoat premiers at Pillsbury House Theatre in May. Every single performance of Scapegoat will have pay what you want pricing.
Tickets:
Tickets prices are $40 and $60. Discounts are available for seniors, college students, those under age 30, and groups.
Best Ticket Deal: "Pay What You Will Wednesday"
Use code: P15 for $15 tickets
Remaining Dates:
3/16 at 7:30PM
3/17 at 11:30AM and 7:30PM
3/18 at 7:30PM
3/19 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM
3/20 at 2:00PM
3/22 at 10:00AM
3/23 at 7:30PM
3/24 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM
3/25 at 7:30PM
3/26 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM
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