After seeing Jackie Sibblies Drury’s “Fairview,” many audience members come away with a new understanding of race as they experience the playwright’s investigation of being “watched” in America.
“This idea of being watched by someone as a person of color — there is automatically some sort of sense of suspicion, especially if the watcher is a white person,” Drury said in a July 14, 2019 “NPR” interview. “And so, I started from a place of trying to create what in the theater felt like a normal Black family and then introduced the idea of someone watching that family — and that watching [changes] their behavior and the course of their lives.”
“Fairview” begins as a middle-class Black family prepares a birthday dinner for grandma. Everything seems to be going wrong — the food isn’t ready; the radio is broken and there’s something strange in the air. It’s as if the family is being watched.
Four white people sit on the edge of the audience commenting on the action from their unique position. The action continues to intrigue as the white “watchers” enter the stage and begin playing several of the Black characters.
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the beautifully written play alternates between hilarious scenes and others that are beyond disturbing and thought provoking.
“This is a play that makes you want to discuss a lot of issues; one that makes you leave the theater thinking differently than how you walked in,” said Contra Costa Civic Theatre’s Artistic Director Joel Roster, who is producing the play in February. “It should alarm you, shock you, make you laugh, make you cry, make you angry. It’s going to be an unforgettable experience.”
Directed by Terrence Tyrie Ivory, the cast includes Asoula Jasmine Alejo, Ashanna Andrews, Raven Douglas and Gary Stanford, Jr.
“Fairview” runs Saturday through Feb. 16 at CCCT on 951 Pomona Ave. in El Cerrito. To facilitate discussion, Roster has scheduled talkbacks with the cast and production team following every Sunday matinee.
For tickets, call 510-524-9132 or go to ccct.org.
Lafayette: Town Hall Theatre announced a special event at its historic theater on 3535 School St. with the production of John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt: A Parable.”
Directed by Stephanie Singer and produced by S&W Productions, this thought-provoking work runs Feb. 7 at 7 p.m., then on Feb. 8 and 9 at 1 p.m.
Starring Deborah Black, Flannery Mays, Bill J. Simmons and John Tranchitella, this Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play follows the story of a school principal who suspects a priest of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.
“This is a play that continues to challenge and inspire,” said Town Hall Artistic Director Richard Perez. “Its relevance to contemporary discussions about power, trust and accountability is undeniable. With Stephanie Singer at the helm, we are excited to present a production that will engage our community in meaningful dialogue.”
Hoping to entice theater and sports lovers on Super Bowl Sunday, the Town Hall Theatre offers a special add on ticket. Purchase a ticket to “Doubt” on Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. and watch the big game following the performance with lite bites and a no-host bar.
Town Hall Theatre continues partnering with local musical groups by featuring an appearance of vocalist Faye Carol and her six-piece band Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. Get ready for high energy jazz, blues and funk as the gifted musicians blend timeless classics with contemporary flair.
The busy theater also presents “All You Need is Love” on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. It’s an intimate acoustic evening of the very best of the Beatles featuring musicians Drew Harrison (The Sun Kings), Jim Funk and Tom Fleming (King Tritone).
For tickets to any of the Town Hall events, call 925-283-1557 or go to townhalltheatre.com.
Concord: There’s a new educational theater program for kids and young adults that offers both classes and mainstage productions. Founded by Ruthe Baez, Ohana Theatrical Productions will be auditioning in March for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
For more information, go to ohanatheatricalproductions.com.
S.F.: Take a journey through San Francisco’s dark side with BATS Improv as they present “SF Noir” on Saturday nights at 8 p.m. in February.
According to BATS, audiences will experience moody lighting, 1940s and ’50s costumes, stylized violence and improvised torch songs as well as iconic San Francisco locations.
“I have been obsessed with this style since my father took me to watch ‘The Big Sleep’ at Harrington’s bar,” said Director Brian Lohmann. “I studied Film Noir at San Francisco State. I worked for the Surf Theatre chain after college and went to every Noir Festival the Castro Theatre ran in the ’80s and ’90s.”
Performances take place at BATS Bayfront Theatre on Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd. in San Francisco. For tickets, go to improv.org.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.