THE MAGNOLIA BALLET
About Face Theatre (AFT) brings to The Den Threatre a tantalizingly profound play written by the talented Terry Guest, The MAGNOLIA BALLET.
A generational curse is like a ghost living within a family, breaking the fundamental foundation of love, especially from father to son. Ezekiel Z, a Black teenager whose father struggles with the exclusion of love and the inability to break its curse, Z holds a secret that could shatter his already turbulent relationship with his father. Still, after discovering love letters from his grandfather regarding a forbidden love, it provides a more vital understanding of his past, but he realizes that this newfound knowledge could destroy everything.
There are multi-generational ghosts everywhere. In Z's home, his past, and the city where he lives. These ghosts have separated his family for years, haunting his relationships where his Mitchell masculinity battles with his inter-confidence and self-love.
THE MAGNOLIA BALLET poignantly brings the ghost of our past front and center and asks if we will ever be able to run away from the hatred of racism, homophobia, and toxic masculinity. As a black man, I understand the generational distance that occurred from a father who strengthened himself to fight racism, teaching his children how to survive in a world of hate due to the color of their skin. Having to face the layers of fear Z encounters in this play is a systematic historical nightmare of our society's unwillingness to see others as who they are and not defiantly force our god-like philosophies over humanity.
The cast consists of Terry Guest, Wardell Julius Clark, Sheldon D. Brown, and Ben Sulzberger. Sulzberger plays Danny Mitchell, who is battling with his sexuality and respect from his father, is making his Chicago theater debut.
The multi-talented Terry Guest will be one of Chicago's brightest theatrical stars and has again shown his brilliance in writing and performance. Guest is a master in expressional art. He luminously brings the narrative darkness of humanity and its defiant and forbidden ecstasy to life through his words.
Wardell Julius Clark continues to impress me with his plethora of talent. He is an incredible director, and many forget he is also an excellent, talented, award-winning actor, producer, and activist. Clark is remarkable as the father of Ezekiel and thoroughly humorous and frightened as the white police officer, Mr. Mitchell, and the tainted father of Z.
Sheldon D. Brown was able to contort his amazing vocals into a hauntingly surreal voice of black ancestors crying out against injustice. His role as grandfather and apparition was menacingly powerful—Invokingly how society and humanity's generational curses can still linger.
Chicago-based director Mikael Burke's direction of this play, shouldn't be overlooked. Director of FIREFLIES and KILL MOVE PARADISE, Burke's unique combination of conveying the passion, pain, and wittiness of THE MAGNOLIA BALLET is impressive.
The endearment of THE MAGNOLIA BALLET is its message of truth, which will have the audience walking away questioning if they are living a life of judgment or can we proceed beyond the historical and present-day judgment. Will we carry our ghosts in the walls of our hearts, or will we let them vanish through love?
THE MAGNOLIA BALLET's spellbinding message is provocatively candid and exhilaratingly refreshing. It not only opens the doors to the truth of our hatred but reminds us it's still alive and needs to be eradicated through understanding and love.
Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends About Face Theatre's THE MAGNOLIA BALLET playing at The Den Theatre.
The Den Theatre
The Magnolia Ballet
Written by Terry Guest
Directed by Mikael Burke
May 12 - June 11, 2022
