By Dael Orlandersmith
Jobsite Theater
Tampa, FL
It has been quite some time since I've since acting of this caliber in the Tampa Bay area. With the majority of the play presented in a stream of consciousness narrative, the two actors performing the roles of close to ten characters gets confusing at times. For the most part Wicker and Green did a fabulous job of keeping it together, but there were a couple times where I lost track of who exactly they were playing. To the blase theatergoer, situations like this can derail the momentum, but the story was separated enough to get back on track in the event you get lost. Keep in mind yellowman doesn't follow a traditional beginning-middle-end story arc. If you aren't prepared to listen to every word on stage, it may be a long night for you.
Don't get me wrong, I recommend this play to anyone who asks, but my inner journalist will have to add a disclaimer that this may not be the best play for someome looking for a sweet story with a predictible ending. I feel the same way about yellowman as I did when I first saw American History X. I was left with a question mark and unsettled expectations, but after I let it marinade, everything fell into place. Without a doubt, yellowman is the most intense play I've seen in Tampa.
March 17th, 2011
Jobsite could not have cast this play any better with the superb portrayals by Jim Wicker and Fanni Green. A 2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist for drama, yellowman's dialogue and narrative lend themselves to shine upon the prowess of the actors performing it. The ability to carry a conversation between mother, father, grandfather and yourself is by no stretch an easy task, and both actors accomplished it with flying colors. Fanni Green's ability to embody her character of Alma almost seemed more like a tale told in confidence rather than an actress on stage. Great Job. Jim Wicker's ability to grow from a prepubescent child to a grey haired middle aged man within the two hours of the play show his devotion to his craft. Wicker's final moment on his hands and knees may have been the single most touching scene of the season. Bravo bravo bravo! With Tampa's top theater director Karla Hartley at the helm, there was no way yellowman could be at fault due to execution.
Intense, engaging and unforgettable. The first three words that come to mind when I think of Jobsite's latest effort yellowman.
yellowman is a two actor play set in rural South Carolina which touches on issues of biracial relations, ethnocentrism, family, class, parental complex, love and death. The story primarily follows Alma and Eugene as they make sense of their relationship amidst mounting pressure and bigotry from their community and family members alike. Crossing over a handful of time periods including childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and middle age, yellowman is a moving tale of journey of enlightenment and discovery that only great storytelling can provide.
yellowman is a two actor play set in rural South Carolina which touches on issues of biracial relations, ethnocentrism, family, class, parental complex, love and death. The story primarily follows Alma and Eugene as they make sense of their relationship amidst mounting pressure and bigotry from their community and family members alike. Crossing over a handful of time periods including childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and middle age, yellowman is a moving tale of journey of enlightenment and discovery that only great storytelling can provide.
Jobsite could not have cast this play any better with the superb portrayals by Jim Wicker and Fanni Green. A 2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist for drama, yellowman's dialogue and narrative lend themselves to shine upon the prowess of the actors performing it. The ability to carry a conversation between mother, father, grandfather and yourself is by no stretch an easy task, and both actors accomplished it with flying colors. Fanni Green's ability to embody her character of Alma almost seemed more like a tale told in confidence rather than an actress on stage. Great Job. Jim Wicker's ability to grow from a prepubescent child to a grey haired middle aged man within the two hours of the play show his devotion to his craft. Wicker's final moment on his hands and knees may have been the single most touching scene of the season. Bravo bravo bravo! With Tampa's top theater director Karla Hartley at the helm, there was no way yellowman could be at fault due to execution.
Fanni Green and Jim Wicker in yellowman
Photo c/o Jobsite Theater
It has been quite some time since I've since acting of this caliber in the Tampa Bay area. With the majority of the play presented in a stream of consciousness narrative, the two actors performing the roles of close to ten characters gets confusing at times. For the most part Wicker and Green did a fabulous job of keeping it together, but there were a couple times where I lost track of who exactly they were playing. To the blase theatergoer, situations like this can derail the momentum, but the story was separated enough to get back on track in the event you get lost. Keep in mind yellowman doesn't follow a traditional beginning-middle-end story arc. If you aren't prepared to listen to every word on stage, it may be a long night for you.
Don't get me wrong, I recommend this play to anyone who asks, but my inner journalist will have to add a disclaimer that this may not be the best play for someome looking for a sweet story with a predictible ending. I feel the same way about yellowman as I did when I first saw American History X. I was left with a question mark and unsettled expectations, but after I let it marinade, everything fell into place. Without a doubt, yellowman is the most intense play I've seen in Tampa.
yellowman plays through March 27th at the Shimberg Playhouse. For more information on yellowman and Jobsite Theater, please click here. Tickets are selling fast, so get your tickets today.
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Music of the Post - anchor&braille
