[NEohioPAL] Berko review: YOU GOT NERVE! @ Karamu

[Roy Berko]

 YOU GOT NERVE!, a work in
progress 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—
 
CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  
 
In 1915, Russell
Jelliffe and Rowena Woodham, a pair of Oberlin graduates, opened The Playhouse
Settlement House at the corner of East 38th and Central Avenue. Little did they
realize that besides getting people of all races and creeds to share common
ventures, they were laying the foundation for what today is the oldest African
American theatre in America.  A
theatre that has helped hone such luminaries as actors Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee,
Robert Guillaume, Dick Latessa and Ron O'Neal, as well as
playwright and poet Langston Hughes.  Cleveland legends Dorothy and Reuben Silver served on the organization’s
staff for 21 years.
 
The Playhouse Settlement was renamed Karamu,  a Swahili word meaning "A
place of enjoyment in the center of the community,” in 1941.  It is indeed a place of enjoyment which
has many community building traditions, such as members of the audience being
personally thanked by the entire cast during a procession following each
show.  And, each show starts with a
homey interaction between the vivacious Vivian Wilson, the organization’s
Marketing Director, and the audience.
 
In honor of its 97th anniversary, which is named
“The Season of Joy and Perseverance,” Karamu Theatre, is presenting a world
premiere of a play by its Playwright in Residence, Michael Oatman.  A native Clevelander, Oatman, who is a
member of the Playwrights Unit at the Cleveland Play House, has written a
number of plays including LET IT BLEED, which was premiered at The New Work,
New Ways Festival at the University of Nebraska, and BEFORE I DIE;  THE WAR AGAINST TUPAC SHAKUR presented
at CPH’s Fusion Festival.  This
year, he was the recipient of the Cleveland Arts Prize “Emerging Artist Award.”
 
The basic story of YOU GOT NERVE! centers on a group of
inner city kids who hassle students at the Cleveland School of the Performing
Arts, when the school’s campus is moved into an area that lacks safety.  As a result of a fight which ensues,
both groups are assigned to community service in the senior citizen’s home
which was trashed as it became the uninvited host for the conflict.  
 
As often is the case with the presentation of a new script,
YOU GOT NERVE! needs further development.  There are some nice moments, such as relating the history of such issues
as the poll tax and the connection between the youth and the seniors, but it is
definitely a work in progress. some of the language is not that used in natural
speech.  Lines often sound like
written rather than oral language.  There are just too many side topics that cause story to lack focus.  Teenage love, homelessness,
Alzheimer’s, inner city/suburban differences, the African American class
system, youth-elderly lack of understanding, historical Black music and
entertainers, all come and go within the play’s framework, with none completely
developed.  What’s the author’s
intent and purpose?  Specifically,
what is he expecting us to carry from the theatre? 
 
The large cast, many of whom are
students at the School of the Performing Arts, puts out full effort.  There are some nice performances,
including those by Chelsea Anderson, who develops a consistent identity as
Claire, a bright young lady who lives to sing; Brenda Adrine, as Ms. Adrienne,
one of the home’s senior residents, has a nice grasp of the character; and,
Antaune Rogers, though playing a character way beyond his years, correctly speaks
ideas rather than just words.
 
On the other hand, there are
overdone characterizations with the performers feigning the characters, rather
than being the person. Many of the lines seem read, rather than spoken.  There is a lack of projection by some
actors, so ideas get lost.  Director Terrence Spivey needed to work with the cast on realistic
performance and idea development.   Most of the cast are performers in training, and needed more assistance.
 
Capsule judgement:  YOU GOT NERVE! is a work in progress,
both as a script and a production.  It’s nice to see Karamu using students from The School of the Performing
Arts and blending them with community members to help them broaden their
experience base.
 
YOU GOT NERVE! continues
through  October 9 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.
 
Karamu’s next production is THE
SHADOW BOX, Michael Cristofer’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play
about three patients diagnosed with terminal illness who examine the value of
life and struggle with their mortality will be staged from October 28 through
November 20.
 
 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2011, 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 www.NeOHIOpal
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