Racism gets schooled in Cleveland Play House comedy ‘Fairfield’

Bob Abelman

Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics

American Theatre Critics Association

Learning eyes on me!  Listening ears!

Some playwrights inadvertently insult their audiences by talking down to them as if they were children.  In Eric Coble’s delightful comedy “Fairfield,” which is getting its world premiere production in Cleveland Play House’s New Ground Theatre Festival, the playwright intentionally treats us like actual children so we have the most intriguing vantage point from which to view adults behaving badly. 

It’s Black History Month.  And Fairfield Elementary – the flagship facility in a minority majority school district in an affluent and progressive suburb – is planning a celebration. 

Enter Angela Wadley (Nedra McClyde), Fairfield’s highly officious African American principal, who introduces us to the concept of “diversity” and sets the tone for this production.  She asks “How many here are Christian?  “How about Jewish?  Muslim?  See, that’s diversity.  And how many are Atheists?  That’s someone who doesn’t believe in God.  No.  None of – NONE of that!  Let’s calm – children, there’s nothing wrong with – Children!  CHILDREN!”  

Spearheading the school’s month-long festivities – to include a master/slave role-playing exercise for first graders and a racial sensitivity assembly featuring a former Black Panther as an inspirational speaker – is Laurie Kaminski (Crystal Finn), an overachieving Caucasian teacher who is new to the school and very eager to please. What could possibly go wrong?

Well… everything.

For more of this review, go to:  http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/