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REVIEW: Robey Theatre Company, Scarecrow Press illuminate theatre history

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Paul Robeson is well remembered today for his performance as the self-appointed monarch of a Caribbean island in Eugene O’Neill’s “The Emperor Jones.” What’s been largely forgotten is that it was the first important dramatic role for a black actor on Broadway—and that the actor who created the part was not Robeson but a man named Charles Gilpin. “The Emperor’s Last Performance” by Melvin Ishmael Johnson, now in a limited world premiere at Los Angeles Theatre Center through April 4, throws a welcome light on this overlooked personality.

Gilpin’s irritation and growing discomfort over O’Neill’s persistent use of “the N word” in his play is the focus of Johnson’s fascinating drama; the scene where actor confronts playwright and forces him to defend his artistic choices is one of the highlights. There’s a terrific scene where stage reality blends with real life to a nightmarish degree. You have to admire Johnson for brevity in an era when most plays are overwritten, but at 75 minutes the piece could use a little more fleshing out. Instead of overemphasis on Gilpin’s boozing—which eventually costs him the star-making role—the actor’s early days as a minstrel might be explored.

Dwain A. Perry is captivating as Gilpin in this Robey Theatre Company presentation, conveying the entertainer’s distinctive personalities on and off stage. Robert Clements (as his manager, Naibun), Jonathan Palmer (as O’Neill) and Jah Shams (as Robeson) offer strong support, as do the others in the ensemble, under the careful direction of Ben Guillory—who co-founded Robey with actor Danny Glover circa 1996. Call 213-489-0994, ext. 107.

Seeking further information on Gilpin, I turned to “The A to Z of American Theatre: Modernism” by James Fisher and Felicia Hardison Londre, newly available in paperback from Scarecrow Press. (It’s easier to look things up in Wikipedia, of course, but the info can’t be trusted.) The entry on Gilpin is relatively short—we do learn he became a director in 1916 for the Lafayette Players, NYC’s first black stock company in a century.

More illuminating s is the summary of “The Emperor Jones” and the demon-plagued title character. The entry for African American Theatre is fascinating, with its details on such little known entities as the Astor Place Company of Colored Tragedians, founded in 1884. The 570-page tome covers virtually every aspect of American theatre in the age of modernism from 1880 to 1930, including economics, sexuality, religious drama, vaudeville, the Moscow Art Theatre, and the Yiddish Theatre.

via Examiner

VIDEO: A Preview of ‘The Emperor’s Last Performance’

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

The Emperor’s Last Performance [more info]
Thursday 03/25 8pm (preview)
Friday 03/26 8pm
Saturday 03/27 3pm and 8pm
Sunday 03/28 3pm and 7pm
Friday 04/02 8pm
Saturday 04/03 3pm and 8pm
Sunday 04/04 3pm and 7pm

LATC Theatre 4
General Admission: $30
Students: $20

 

Buy Tickets to The Emperor's Last Performance!

March // Estado // DTLA Art Walk

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

A NEW STATE OF
ART, MUSIC, PERFORMANCE, DEBAUCHERY
AT THE DOWNTOWN L.A. ART WALK
THURSDAY, MARCH 11 // 6:30PM TO 10:30PM

+ Art
Projections by Christopher Ash and Francois-Pierre Couture
Art work by GRONK

+ Musical Performances
All musical performances are located at the outdoor stage. Limited seating is first come, first served and the rest, standing room only.
6:30PM // Semyon Kobialka
8:30PM // Ash Riser

+ The Vault (Time TBA)
An original weekly cabaret featuring Los Angeles based writers, actors, directors, musicians, comedians, and dancers.

+ Beer and Wine Bar benefiting The LATC

This event is free and open to the public & all ages. Donations are welcome in any amount and will help to continue this and any other programs at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. To donate, please visit the Info Table located in the patio.

If you’re an artist or musician interested in performing at ESTADO, please e-mail an EPK to Charm Narong at charm@thelatc.org.

LATC Sponsors