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--></style><span style="color:black"><b>YOU GOT NERVE!, a work in
progress at Karamu</b></span>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Roy Berko</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">(Member, American Theatre Critics
Association)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><i>Lorain County Times--Westlaker
Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times</i></span><span style="color:black"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">--COOLCLEVELAND.COM—</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:1.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:
0in 11.0pt;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A
theatre that has helped hone such luminaries as actors Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee,
Robert <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Guillaume"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Guillaume</span></a>,
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Latessa"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Dick Latessa</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_O%27Neal"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Ron O'Neal</span></a>, as well as
playwright and poet Langston Hughes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Cleveland legends Dorothy and Reuben Silver served on the organization’s
staff for 21 years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">The Playhouse Settlement was renamed Karamu,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a Swahili word meaning "A
place of enjoyment in the center of the community,” in 1941.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, each show starts with a
homey interaction between the vivacious Vivian Wilson, the organization’s
Marketing Director, and the audience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">In honor of its 97<sup>th</sup> 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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>THE WAR AGAINST TUPAC SHAKUR presented
at CPH’s Fusion Festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This
year, he was the recipient of the Cleveland Arts Prize “Emerging Artist Award.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">As often is the case with the presentation of a new script,
YOU GOT NERVE! needs further development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lines often sound like
written rather than oral language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>There are just too many side topics that cause story to lack focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What’s the author’s
intent and purpose?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Specifically,
what is he expecting us to carry from the theatre? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The large cast, many of whom are
students at the School of the Performing Arts, puts out full effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There is a lack of projection by some
actors, so ideas get lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Director Terrence Spivey needed to work with the cast on realistic
performance and idea development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Most of the cast are performers in training, and needed more assistance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><i>Capsule judgement:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>YOU GOT NERVE! is a work in progress,
both as a script and a production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>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.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">YOU GOT NERVE! continues
through<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>For ticket information call 216-795-7077.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">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.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
</div><div> </div><div><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#8000FF">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</font></i></div></div></body></html>