Goodman Theatre presents FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 2, AND 3): Beautifully Staged Epic Journey

Goodman Theatre presents Chicago Premiere of Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)

Written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Niegel Smith, this epic tale, loosely based on the structure of Homer’s Odyssey, follows Hero (Kamal Angelo Bolden), a slave who faces a difficult choice. In the face of the Civil War, his master asks him to follow as he fights for the Confederate cause. In return? Hero will receive his freedom, or so his master claims. At what cost? Hero could leave everything he holds dear and not survive – including the other slaves who have become family, such as his father-figure The Oldest Old Man (Earnest Perry, Jr, who showcases spot-on comedic timing) and Homer (Jaime Lincoln Smith with a commanding stage presence). Then there is the woman he loves, Penny (Aimé Donna Kelly, who provides a heartbreakingly honest performance), and the dignity he must forgo to fight on the side that is trying to keep him enslaved.

The story that follows tracks Hero’s journey to the war and back home, and falls into three main parts: “Part 1: A Measure of a Man,” which looks at Hero’s decision to join his master in the war, “Part 2: A Battle in the Wilderness,” which offers a window into a climactic moment for Hero in the war, and finally, “Part 3: The Union of My Confederate Parts,” which showcases Hero’s return home and what follows. Smith masterfully leads this powerful ensemble of performers on the journey that keeps the audience hooked from start to finish.

Creative Design for an Epic Journey

Smith and his artistic team create a subtle but effective design. Set Designer Courtney O’Neill’s stage is simple – a large gray space with hints of red and blue, as well as stars etched into the wall and floor, multiple doorways, and a blank wall on which the section titles can be projected. Depending on the scene there could be add-ons of small trees or stools, but overall, the space remains bare, and creates the perfect atmosphere for the story. At any given point, a new obstacle could enter and present Hero with a new challenge, and the bare space with multiple entrances and exits allows for this mystery to take form.

The Music

According to the dramaturgical notes, most scholars believe that The Odyssey was meant to be sung with musical accompaniment, and Parks creatively utilizes this feature in her play through The Musician (Melody Angel). Angel acts as a narrator throughout the play, sitting on the side of the scene looking in, and singing songs that tie scenes together in the transitions. From the very opening number, Angel wows the audience with a powerful belt, and a charming stage presence that immediately hooks them in. The music – created primarily by Original Music and Sound Designer Justin Ellington with one song, “He’s Leaving,” composed by Suzan-Lori Parks, adds to the epic feel of the piece.

Powerful and Clever Script

Parks’ play is deeply thought provoking, and invites the audience to consider the various definitions of freedom alongside Hero. He is asked again and again to make difficult choices that could impact those he cares about, as well as he allies he meets along his journey. However, much like Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey, Hero does not always act righteously, and each obstacle tests the depths of his character right up until the very end.

The subject matter, not surprisingly is serious and at times challenging to watch unfold. With a backdrop of the Civil War, conversations about slavery and beatings are expected. However, Parks is careful to include a dark comedy within the script that almost becomes necessary, and acts as a small release that helps the audience remain engaged, which Director Niegel Smith skillfully weaves into his tense and dark production.

One prime example is in Part Two, when we for the first time see Hero interacting with his master, the Colonel (William Dick). He has captured a union Soldier, Smith (Demetrios Troy), and the scene begins with a song. Colonel takes out a banjo and begins to sing about his “sinful ways,” with amusing lines about his failings as a husband and how he wishes to give Lincoln “one hell of a whack.” Dick is hilarious in his portrayal, and the audience laughs along throughout the musical number. Dick is able to master the lighter sides of his character, which offers a sharp but striking contrast to what is to follow.

Colonel provokes Smith, and offers him a deal: if Smith is able to guess the original price for which he bought Hero, then Colonel will hand his slave over. Smith clearly helped Troy and Bolden master the tension of the moment beautifully, and Dick, who just had the audience cracking up through his comedic music, makes a complete switch, and embodies the brutal violence and horrifying nature of the moment as he details each skill and benefit of his slave – every part that makes him a prime product that is worth every penny. Parks crafts the moment in a genius manner. Rather than painting the Colonel as a purely terrifying individual, she offers the foolish side to ease the audience into the ugliness that is about to unfold. That is a quality that persists through the play as a whole.

Cast

Melody Angel Musician

Kamal Angelo Bolden Hero/Ulysses

Wiliam Dick Colonel

Aimé Donna Kelly Penny

Jaime Lincoln Smith Homer

Ronald L. Conner Third

Bernard Gilbert Runaway 3

Nicole Michelle Haskins Runaway 2

Earnest Perry Jr The Oldest Old Man

Tyrone Phillips Runaway 1

Michael Aaron Pogue Fourth

BrittneyLove Smith Odyssey Dog

Jacqueline Williams Leader

Creative Team

Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks

Director Niegel Smith

Scenic Design Courtney O'Neill

Costume Design Linda Cho

Lighting Design Keith Parham

Sound Design and Original Music Justin Ellington

Dramaturg Neena Arndt

Goodman Theatre presents FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 2, AND 3): Beautifully Staged Epic Journey

Goodman Theatre presents Chicago Premiere of Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)

Creative Design for an Epic Journey

The Music

Powerful and Clever Script

When:

Tickets:

Where:

Photo Credit: Liz Lauren

About the Author:

Make a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply