Carlyle Brown's drama The African Company Presents Richard III will be performed beginning this week at Culbreth Theatre. The production marks Theresa M. Davis' directing debut as a faculty member of the University's drama department. Davis has been hired as the associate professor of cross-cultural performance.
The play, based on real events, features the historic African Company's 1821 production of Shakespeare's Richard III. During the production, the company faces discrimination as the white cast of a rival New York theater company attempts to shut it down and secure its own success. As Davis says, there is the question of "Who has the right to Richard III? This white company, or this black company or both?"
Davis' first experience with The African Company Presents Richard III was in 1992 when she saw the Arena Stage production. She recalled being "blown away by the power of the performances and the message of the script." She remembers how during one climactic scene, "You could hear a pin drop."
Davis said she has since wanted to be involved with the play "on an intimate level."
Davis said she is honored to work on this production during Black History Month. She noted that "the legacy of the African Company is unknown to most Americans. It is a wonderful moment for us to educate." Davis said the play suits not only the drama department's desire to "produce more culturally diverse works," but also the ideals presented in this year's theme for Black History Month, to "educate, motivate, liberate."
Davis, who describes herself as "an educator activist," explained that "Part of that activism is based on a philosophy that race matters. It is important to acknowledge both our similarities [and our differences] as human beings."
Though the play takes place in 1821, it has many themes still relevant today. Davis said "many of the internal struggles that members of the African Company faced are similar to what African-Americans face today. One of these issues is the question of assimilation. The challenge of self-determination and self-awareness."
This question of assimilation is particularly embodied by the character James Hewlett, who, rather than mimicking the speech typically used by Shakespearean actors, instructs us to "say ya Shakespeare like ya want."
Davis finds parallels between Shakespeare's Richard III and this play, noting that "Richard III epitomizes an extreme struggle for power."
There is also a tie between Richard and James Hewlett. Davis said both "express the need to wear this mask that separates the public from the private self."
Davis said she especially loves how this script "chronicles a diversity within the black experience." The characters in the African Company represent this range in experience as they come from many backgrounds: from the West Indies to the American South to New York. Davis said it is important to see "these diverse experiences within the black community." One of the play's major strengths, Davis said, is the "culture clashes between people of different races and ethnic backgrounds".
"The messages in this play would not resonate so strongly if everyone were exactly the same" Davis said.
Davis said she is "thrilled that Carlyle Brown [the playwright] is coming Feb. 16 to see the production and to join us for a talk-back after the performance."
Davis said she hopes the play will "spark a dialogue" at the University about "embracing one's culture and heritage."
Of her directional debut at the University, Davis said she is most proud of the process and "the sense of community and the dedication of everyone working toward this common goal of putting forth the best work possible." She added that, "As an artist, I could not ask for more."
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