[NEohioPAL] Review of "A Raisin in the Sun" at Ensemble Theatre

[Bob Abelman]

Ensemble’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ is a week away from perfection



Bob Abelman

Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal



Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem,” penned in 1951, asks "What happens to a dream deferred?  Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?”



Lorraine Hansberry attempted to address these questions in a play – her first to be produced – that debuted on Broadway in 1959.  In doing so, the now-classic “A Raisin in the Sun” serves as a celebration of African-American strength garnered through generations of personal struggle and slow-coming social change.



The production of her play was not only important, it was historic. Broadway had never seen a play written by a black woman, a play with a black director, or a commercially produced drama about the truth of black people’s lives.  



In its current production at Ensemble Theatre, director Celeste Cosentino doesn’t so much want to remind the audience that this play is important as much as demonstrate that this play is good.  She has pulled together a talented cast and crew to do so but, as of its the opening Saturday night performance, the show is still a week away from being all it can be.



For more of this article, go to www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/bob_abelman/
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