[NEohioPAL] Berko review: FROM BREAST CANCER TO BROADWAY (Karamu)

[Roy Berko]

FROM BREAST CANCER TO BROADWAY is a moving experience at Karamu

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview 
Times

--COOLCLEVELAND.COM-

In her speech before the premiere of FROM BREAST CANCER TO BROADWAY, Karamu 
Theatre's Public Relations Director, Vivian Wilson asked for all those in 
attendance who were breast cancer survivors to stand up.  Over one-third of the 
mainly female African American audience stood up.  Wilson went on to explain 
that while white American females get breast cancer at a proportionally higher 
rate, the percentage of African American women who die of the disease is 
higher.  The reasons:  the cost and fear of the pain of mammograms, reliance on 
old folk tales, and lack of general knowledge about the disease.

It is the purpose of FROM BREAST CANCER TO BROADWAY, the real stories of eleven 
Black women who wrote each of the mini-plays, to spread the word to their 
community of the truth about the disease and how to treat and deal with it.  

According to dynamic and charming Lenice Bozerman, one of the authors to whom I 
spoke at intermission, the project was an outgrowth of a writing workshop 
conducted at The Gathering Place, a cancer support center.  Each woman wrote of 
her experiences and, under the guidance of Bridgette Wimberly, the pieces were 
polished.  The performance staging was done by Terrence Spivey.  

The themes cover self-blaming, the relational dysfunctionality among friends and 
family that results from the discovery of the illness, the necessity of turning 
to a higher source for sustenance and assurance, the lack of knowledge of women 
in general regarding self-examination and medical testing, the disagreement and 
lack of empathy of some doctors, the ignoring of a family history in spite of 
the obvious signs, how pregnancy is affected by breast cancer, how inner-voices 
emerge under times of stress, the lack of sensitivity on the part of employers 
and husbands and family members, and the role of support groups and community 
resources in helping deal with the physical and emotional pain  from coping with 
the disease.

Though there is some unevenness in both the scripts and the performances, the 
overall effect of the evening is emotionally stimulating and draining.  Superior 
performances were given by Jeanne Madison, Saidah Mitchell and Joyce M. Meadows. 
 

The most important thing is the message to the audience….do self examinations, 
get mammograms, avail yourself of support groups.  

Are you aware that The Angel Network-African American Women Nurturing and Giving 
Each Other Life), (216-491-7827 or 216-491-6407), makes arrangements for free 
medical testing, financial support, transportation and even child care to those 
in need?   Are you aware of the programs available from Susan G. Komen for the 
Cure/Northeast Ohio?  Are you cognizant of The Gathering Place (216-595-9546), 
which provides one-to-one counseling, support groups, nutrition and exercise 
classes, and lectures and workshops for those who have cancer and their 
families?

The program contains an excellent glossary of breast cancer terms compiled by 
Bernadette Scruggs.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  Seeing FROM BREAST CANCER TO BROADWAY is more than a 
theatrical event, it can be a life saving experience for women, African American 
Women, in particular.  It is an eye opening event for all to experience.

FROM BREAST CANCER TO BROADWAY continues through November 21 in the Arena 
Theatre at Karamu, 2355 East 89th Street, which has a fenced, guarded and 
lighted parking lot adjacent to the theatre, and provides free parking.  For 
ticket information call 216-795-7077.
 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2010, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at 
http://royberko.info
His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to 
subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)