The Nacirema Society
The year 1964 was one of the most monumental times for African Americans, as The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; however, in Montgomery, Alabama, they were a society of African Americans more concerned with the preparations of the Nacirema Society debutante ball and the family legacy with honor and prestige, where the social elite focused on prosperity and privileges rather than concentrating on marching and boycotts happening in Selma, Alabama. As The Nacirema Society requests the honor of your presence at a celebration of their first One Hundred Years, The Nacirema Society (American spelled backward), grande dame Grace Dunbar, is readying her granddaughter Gracie on the finer things of being a debutante and Grace, who reminds them that there are only six Nacirema white gowns in the world, designed and hand stitched by Jennie Turner, seeks nothing less than perfection from her granddaughter.
““We do hereby found The Nacirema Society in order to uplift ourselves as free Negro women and to guide our daughters on the path of honor, chastity, and truth.” ”
As Grace makes Gracie recite the pledge, she gets an unexpected visit that will haunt the family's legacy when an old rumor comes to roost when Alpha Campbell Jackson tries to blackmail the Dunbar family. Using the rumor as bait, she tells Grace that she is the illegitimate daughter of her deceased husband, who fathered a child with the family's former housekeeper, Lily, Alpha's mother. The bougie Grace doesn't believe her, but when Alpha tells her she has proof via a letter her husband wrote to her mother about her being his child, and with the added pressure of a New York reporter who previously thrashed the society coming to the 100-year celebration, Grace quickly offers Alpha compensation for the letter and Alpha's promise never to reveal the horrid details.
Goodman Theatre's The Nacirema Society is considered a romantic comedy, is the creme de la creme of theater, and is deliciously entertaining. The critically praised and best-selling author (What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day) novelist, activist, and playwright Pearl Cleage, who currently has another one of her top plays featured at Remy Bumppo Theatre via Theater Wit, Blues for an Alabama Sky, masterfully brings the audience into this engaging and enthralling production that will have you excessively laughing throughout. Cleage provides us with the full title of her play: The Nacirema Society invites you to a celebration of their first 100 years; however, she noted that it was too lengthy, thus shortening it to The Nacirema Society. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival commissioned The Nacirema Society. Cleage, currently the Playwright in Residence at the Alliance Theatre, sent a copy to the previous Artistic Director at Alliance Theatre, Susan Booth, now AD at Goodman Theatre. The play was showcased initially at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, featuring Jasmine Guy. Cleage, an African-American woman, tackles issues of racism and sexism.
In the '60s, blacks' socioeconomic status increased slightly more than whites; however, this didn't change the racial divide between the two ethnicities, as blacks still struggled for racial equality. Known also as the "Black Bourgeoisie," who were at the very top of the socioeconomic scale, similar to W. E. B. Du Bois calls for the urgency of black social responsibility in his famous essay "The Talented Tenth," where 10% of African-Americans could lead the race into an integrated, equal America. The Nacirema Society pledged to bring the Negro race to elite status through its dedication to lifting young womanhood. This system of developing societal groups features one of the prominent organizations, Jack and Jill of America, where Marion Stubbs Thomas founded Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated on January 24, 1938, dedicated to nurturing children to become future African-American leaders.
Goodman Theatre's The Nacirema Society, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, brought a more polished upscale Dunbar family than previous adaptations. With Lauren Port and Rachael Jimenez casting, this production brought some of Chicago's elites to the stage with E. Faye Butler (Grace Dubose Dunbar) and Ora Jones as Catherine Adams Green. Butler was outstanding in the one-person act of Fannie, The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer — and Jones, 2011, Chicago Magazine Actress of the Year, who has dazzled the audience with her exceptional performances (Ah, Wilderness). Butler and Jones's chemistry on stage was incredible, weaving a mesmerizing tapestry of non-stop laughter. Playing Gracie Dunbar, Demetra Dee is becoming a must-have talent when casting for a play. Her energetic style and wit can quickly transform into a powerful and defiant character, as seen in Stew and the short-lived fantastic production directed by Lili-Anne Brown, Cullard Water at the now-defunct Victory Gardens. Native Chicagoan Eric Gerard, as Bobby Green, is becoming a rising star that I would like to see more in Chicago productions, and making her Goodman Theatre debut, Nigerian-American actor and playwright Felicia Oduh is making her rounds in Chicagoland theaters. I loved her in Alaiyo at Definition Theater, and she was adorable as the love-struck, articulate, and witty Lillie Campbell Jackson. Jaye Ladymore has thrilled us in numerous plays, such as Relentless and Too Heavy For Your Pocket, and performs impeccably as the New York Times writer Janet Logan. Sharriese Hamilton, who was in the hilariously funny production at Shakespeare Theater's It Came From Out of Space, provides a little sanity in this farce as Marie Dunbar and actor and playwright Tyla Abercrumbie as Alpha Campbell Jackson, is another amazing talent. I'm still in awe of her excellent production of Relentless. But the star stealer of the play was Shariba W. Rivers as the maid, Jessie Roberts. Rivers never said a word, but her facial expression will have you in tears. Rivers demonstrated that you could affect any show without a line, so pay attention to the maid.
Arnel Sancianco's set design featuring the formal living room and library with family antiques was immaculate. Pearl Cleage's The Nacirema Society is just another example of her greatness. We can only hope to see more of the exceptional playwright in theaters.
4 Stars ****
Goodman Theatre
The Nacirema Society
By Pearl Cleage
Directed by Lili-Anne Brown
September 16 – October 15, 2023
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