A Time to Love, Written by Sade Lythcott and Directed by John Scutchins opened at the National Black Theatre in Harlem, New York on June 21st and will continue until July 8th, 2012.
A play which the audience had a lot of fun and were moving and "bopping" in their seats, moving side to side to the songs. This play with music, was a typical play that appeals to the African American/Gospel Audience, both in its appeal, style, and direction. This modest production achieves its goal. The playwright clearly understand the social issues that affects the Black Community and did a humble, although simplistically predictable, job in delivering the story home. No complicated story lines, subplots or threads, this story allows the audience to focus on the ISSUE which is affecting, MOMENT by MOMENT the Black Community.
At first, the story premise seems too simple and too obvious, which, to a more sophisticated audience, may appear contemptuous. However, this might be a "clever" direction on the part of the director in weaving in a more complicated TWIST, which is exactly what we saw in Act two!
Making the 'connection' between cause and effect was the goal (I believe) the playwright wanted us to understand-as a by product of any decision we make in life. This theme is detected in the property as well.
The concept and CONSEQUENCE of time was also a powerful theme which we, as an audience, were able to observe through the movement of chronological events in the story. And how, again, CHOICE has always played a TURNING POINT role in the unfolding of the story premise!
You know the old saying; "simple is better". This play did not attempt to impress nor educate-but ENTERTAIN. But, paradoxically, in the effort to entertain us-it ended up EDUCATING US.
This was very good because we saw many different ethnic backgrounds in the audience, more CAUCASIANS than ever before-and that's also a good thing!
Producer Jackie Jeffries KNOWS HER STUFF! Having been a producer for many years, she knows what the audience wants to see and experience.
The acting was credible, even tempered, and easily absorbed by the audience-which is important. If you can "sell" your character to the audience, you've done your job. The telling of the "story" was what seemed to be the important goal for the cast. And they did this most sincerely.
Of course, Audelco Award Winner, Toni Seawright, was hysterically funny as the "granny" and helped set the "tone" for the underlying premise of that segment of the "story". Very good job!
Gilbert Glenn Brown also did a great job and deserves honorable mention.
There were some technical sound "glitches" but the cast was an absolute pro at covering it up. Sound and musical direction was very tastefully done and well received by the audience. Thanks to Bert Price and Nabi Faison. The set design was simple, sweet, and highly functional, excellent job.
A Time to Love receives ONE and a HALF STAR
A play which the audience had a lot of fun and were moving and "bopping" in their seats, moving side to side to the songs. This play with music, was a typical play that appeals to the African American/Gospel Audience, both in its appeal, style, and direction. This modest production achieves its goal. The playwright clearly understand the social issues that affects the Black Community and did a humble, although simplistically predictable, job in delivering the story home. No complicated story lines, subplots or threads, this story allows the audience to focus on the ISSUE which is affecting, MOMENT by MOMENT the Black Community.
At first, the story premise seems too simple and too obvious, which, to a more sophisticated audience, may appear contemptuous. However, this might be a "clever" direction on the part of the director in weaving in a more complicated TWIST, which is exactly what we saw in Act two!
Making the 'connection' between cause and effect was the goal (I believe) the playwright wanted us to understand-as a by product of any decision we make in life. This theme is detected in the property as well.
The concept and CONSEQUENCE of time was also a powerful theme which we, as an audience, were able to observe through the movement of chronological events in the story. And how, again, CHOICE has always played a TURNING POINT role in the unfolding of the story premise!
You know the old saying; "simple is better". This play did not attempt to impress nor educate-but ENTERTAIN. But, paradoxically, in the effort to entertain us-it ended up EDUCATING US.
This was very good because we saw many different ethnic backgrounds in the audience, more CAUCASIANS than ever before-and that's also a good thing!
Producer Jackie Jeffries KNOWS HER STUFF! Having been a producer for many years, she knows what the audience wants to see and experience.
The acting was credible, even tempered, and easily absorbed by the audience-which is important. If you can "sell" your character to the audience, you've done your job. The telling of the "story" was what seemed to be the important goal for the cast. And they did this most sincerely.
Of course, Audelco Award Winner, Toni Seawright, was hysterically funny as the "granny" and helped set the "tone" for the underlying premise of that segment of the "story". Very good job!
Gilbert Glenn Brown also did a great job and deserves honorable mention.
There were some technical sound "glitches" but the cast was an absolute pro at covering it up. Sound and musical direction was very tastefully done and well received by the audience. Thanks to Bert Price and Nabi Faison. The set design was simple, sweet, and highly functional, excellent job.
A Time to Love receives ONE and a HALF STAR
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