Monday, March 18, 2024

Dominique Morisseau’s ‘Paradise Blue’: A Bang-up Performance! – An EUReview

Dominique Morisseau - Getty
Dominique Morisseau – Getty

*Located in the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) corridor, I attended the Geffen Playhouse presentation of playwright Dominique Morriseau’s “Paradise Blue,” which opened November 18, 2021.

Set in a 1949 jazz scene in what was then known as Detroit’s Black Bottom, the drama is centered around an intriguing period story of the effects of gentrification, black affluence, mystery, vindication and redemption during post WWII when Detroit and other northern cities were crowded with blacks who migrated from the south seeking a better life.

The play is part of “The Detroit Project,” Morisseau’s acclaimed trilogy that chronicles three era’s that would forever change the landscape of Detroit. The cast – Silver (Tyla Ambercrumbie); Blue (Wendell B. Franklin); P-Sam (Alani ILongwe); Corn (John Earl Jelks); and Pumpkin (Shayna Small) – gave a stellar, bang-up performance! The stage setting was so realistic it was easy to drift away to that moment in time.

MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: ‘Peace of Mind with Taraji’ Features Nicole Byer Episode on Facebook Watch | LOOK

Paradise BlueKudos to the production team and stage crew for seamless scene changes, superb lighting and great music selections. Where some of the dialog may have been lost in the sound settings, the performers’ dynamic animate delivery compensated.

Directed by Stori Ayers, the play runs for two hours and 15 minutes (which includes a 15-minute intermission). Performance dates run through December 12.

Larry Buford is a Los Angeles-based contributing writer. Author of “Things Are Gettin’ Outta Hand” and “Book To The Future” (Amazon); two insightful books that speak to our moral conscience in times like these. Email: [email protected]

Larry S. Buford

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

YOU MAY LIKE

SEARCH

- Advertisement -

TRENDING