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PAGE 4B\THE CALL AND POST\WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29,2008 ------Racial issues take centerstage in provocative new play ‘The Shipment’Scott Streater, Prentice Onayemi, Jordan Barbour and Mikeah Jennings.By CHRIS BOURNEAContributing WriterA thought-provoking new play that explores the African-American experience in the 21st century will be presented, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, at the Wexner Center for the Arts, located at 1871 N. High St. on the campus of The Ohio State University.Titled “The Shipment,” the play was written and directed by acclaimed Asian-American playwright Young Jean Lee as part of a residency at the Wexner Center.Lee’s 2007 play at the Wexner Center, “Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven,” challenged Asian-American stereotypes. “The Shipment” tackles stereotypes and issues of race and identity in the African-American community and features an all-Black cast.“We’re trying to sort of get a handle on some ideas that YoungJean has had in her mind for a long time,” said “The Shipment” cast member Mikeah Jennings.Since “Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven,” Lee has earned a reputation as one of the most provocative young writers and directors in contemporary theater. Her work explores the difficulty that people of different cultures have in interacting with *one another.“The discomfort and awkwardness involved in watching this struggle reflects the truth of my experience,” Lee said.“The Shipment” begins with a series of skits depicting stereotypes that the larger society often projects onto African Americans. The skits grew out of conversations the actors had with Lee about stereotypical roles they were often asked to audition for.“I play a few characters in the beginning... Black stereotypes that all of us has been asked toplay either directly or indirectly,” Jennings said. “I’m playing a junkie in the beginning and a flamboyant hairstylist and a misguided, basketball-playing best friend to the main character.”In the second half of the show, Jennings plays a complex character named Omar.“Omar is slightly neurotic and obsessive, a little awkward,” said Jennings.Since she is Asian American and has not personally experienced what it’s like to live as an African American, Lee sought much input from the Black cast.In rehearsals, “the very first thing she said to me was that if something is going on in the studio that makes you uncomfortable, it’s very, very important to say something immediately so it can be processed,” Jennings said.While at the Wexner Center, Lee’s theater company is offering post-performance discussionsafter each show to hear feedback from the audience about “The Shipment” and to talk about the project’s evolution. During the course of the residency, the company will offer free preview performances for Ohio State drama students and campus organizations for African-American and Asian students.In* addition, the Wexner Center has made discounted or free tickets available to underserved youth through local agencies such as Central Community House, Godman Guild, the YMCA and the St. Stephen’s Community House.“Our commissioning and creative residency projects are designed to offer significant resources for significant artists with significant projects, and Young Jean Lee certainly fits all these criteria with her new show ‘The Shipment,’” said Chuck Helm, Wexner Center performingarts director. “It’s heartening to work with artists like her who are bold and outspoken and don’t shy away from difficult topics and issues in a climate that is too often ruled by fear and self-censorship.”Jennings said “The Shipment” is intended to generate dialogue on race and other thorny issues that are often difficult to address in everyday life.“Things have come up about sexuality, about class about gender. It gets complicated, but the idea is always the same and we’re getting, different perspectives,” he said. “We’re all trying to tie everything together into a compelling piece of theater.”For tickets and more information, call the Wexner Center ticket office at (614) 292-3535 or visit: Wexarts.org.
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Cincinnati Call and Post
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Wed, Oct 29, 2008
Page 10
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