Swimming Upstream has emotional debut after Obama election
November 7, 2008 at 4:59 pm by Curt Holman in A&E, News
November 5 may have been either the most or the least opportune night for the Atlanta premiere of True Colors Theatre’s Swimming Upstream, a star-studded evening of stories, songs and spoken-word poetry about Hurricane Katrina and the women of New Orleans.
Everyone in the 14th Street Playhouse seemed charged with excitement over the previous day’s election of Barack Obama as president of the United States. In the curtain speech, True Colors artistic director Kenny Leon said “I’m glad we’re all here the night after we’ve elected a new president” before adding, of Swimming Upstream, “This is probably the most important, best written show I’ve ever worked on.”
The way was developed by African-American theater True Colors in partnership with New Orleans’ Ashé Cultural Arts Center and the V-Day movement opposed to violence against women, organized by The Vagina Monologues‘ Eve Ensler. Ensler teared up during her introductory remarks and said, “Welcome to the New World. I can’t believe we’re opening this play on this night. It’s too perfect.”
Despite the thrill over the prospect of the new White House, Swimming Upstream demands the audience shift some emotional gears to revisit arguably the lowest moment of the current administration.
The play presents the experiences and emotions of women who lived through the disaster of Hurricane Katrina. Four of the script’s 16 writers make up the 11-woman performance ensemble. The most famous cast members include Phylicia Rashad (frequent actress in Kenny Leon’s productions, including the Raisin in the Sun TV movie), Jasmine Guy (of “A Different World”) and Oscar nominee Shirley Knight (probably best known for As Good as it Gets). I’ll review Swimming Upstream in more detail next week, but wanted to point out a few things. Film actress Kerry Washington will appear for the show’s second week, while Rashad will not be available after the first week, so if you want to see the former “Cosby” star, now’s the time.
The script unfolds as a kind of collage of voices, so we get the briefest snapshots of women, rather than get to know then as individuals. Of the marquee-named performers, Jasmine Guy (or maybe her fans) gets short-changed, with seemingly the briefest moments in the spotlight. Guy shines in a charming vignette about a woman’s inability to pray during her post-Katrina depression. Guy sings and exuberantly dances as the character renews her spirit through “praise songs,” but it’s like watching the highlight reel from a longer, more substantial piece. That dynamic will probably change in the second week, when Guy is expected to take on Rashad’s role(s), and Washington will substitute for Guy.
Nov. 16 at True Colors Theatre, 14th Street Playhouse, 173 14th St. $35-$50. 404-733-4738. /www.truecolorstheatrecompany.com
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