WHITE

Definition Theatre opens its 10th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of WHITE by ensemble member James Ijames. Currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, playwright Ijames is from the Tarheel state of North Carolina, whom at the time that I was writing this review was up three points against Baylor in the NCAA March Madness tournament; just lost. Other thought-provoking Ijames plays have been featured at Timeline Theatre, Kill, Move, Paradise and Man, Moon, Walk at Victory Gardens. 

Directed by Ericka Ratcliff, an actress you may have seen on The Unborn, Olympia, P-Valley, and as Maxine Carter on Chicago-Med and theater performances at Second City, Steppenwolf, Northlight, Victory Gardens, Chicago Shakespeare, Collaboraction, Congo Theatre, and Lookingglass. Shared by Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips and Executive Director Neel McNeill, WHITE is a story about explores issues of race, gender, sexuality, and art. For example, who has the right (power and authorship) to determine what is art? And who can create art? 

Gus is a painter who has an ongoing friendship with an art curator named Jane, who seeks to get his work featured in a prestigious contemporary art museum. However, when Jane arrives at his studio, she tells Gus that their new exhibition aims to branch out and find new talent from different racial backgrounds and not the typical white men featured at galleries. When Gus learns that white men like him are being excluded, he is infuriated that his work can't be included and insinuates that the usual privileged afforded him is being negated.   

Jane provides placated sympathies and asks that Gus understand this new direction at this showing and tell him she will feature his work in another event. He begrudgingly agrees, but his outrage of being excluded kindles, causing him to come up with a bizarre plan to get his work included. Gus calls out to his inter-Diva, St. Diana, who prognosticates what Gus should do to get his work; however, she speaks in riddles, confusing him. But he finally connects with his inter-black woman, which apparently, per the show, every gay white male has within, and comes up with a plan. He plans to hire a black woman to portray his work at the museum, and he speaks to his lover, Tanner, about a woman he remembers seeing at one of the play performances. Tanner contacts Vannessa, and after struggling to convince her to be this fictional character, the black female version of Gus, Vanessa agrees. 

They created this bold, young radical artist named Balkonae Townsend. Everything seems to be going to plan; until The liberation of Balkonaé possesses Vanessa taking over, causing Gus to have to deal with the mess he's made while trying to deceive and discredit the museum. Things unravel as he tries to highlight their racism against white men, making Gus feel his depravity has caused more chaos and condemnation than his calamities. 

Provocative and witty, WHITE sarcastically examines white privilege, racial bias, and issues of race, gender, sexuality, and art. Developed at the PlayPenn New Play Conference and supported by Philadelphia Theatre Company through the Terrence McNally New Play Award, WHITE.   

Ijames's spotlighting approach of white privilege is showcased throughout his plays, and WHITE is another example of him using life and art as the background towards racial and ethnic cultural tourism. We can discuss acceptance, the action or process of being received as adequate, but when it comes to being accepted, generally believed, or recognized to be valid, the old guard of privilege will raise up and protest. 

WHITE is unapologetic in its message of opening the world's eyes to its prejudice and how we can either come together and makes it a more acceptable place for all or continue to spiral into our hidden racism.  The cast featured Kierra Bunch (Vanessa/St. Diana/Balkonae), Carley Cornelius(Jane), and Jonathan Allsop as Tanner. On the night we saw WHITE, the role of Gus was played to perfection by Andrew Lund. Bunch was equally perfect in her three roles, and Cornelius and Allsop were exceptional. The sexual scene was a bit racy and pushed the envelope, but overall, Definition Theatre opened up with a bang with WHITE.    

In its conclusion, WHITE highlights the miseducation of the black women who find themselves in a world of exploitation and how white privilege, like Trump, Kyle Rittenhouse, or white men in general, face minimal scrutiny for their actions. In contrast, one black man was banned from the NFL in March 2017 just for kneeling.   

Let's Play Recommends Definition Theatre's WHITE at the Steppenwolf Theatre.  

Definition Theatre (Playing at Steppenwolf Theatre)

WHITE

By James Ijames

Directed by Ericka Ratcliff

March 10 – April 10, 2022