Since Africa
In Mia McCullough's drama, Ater is one of the Lost Boys of the Sudan. Like thousands of young males, he watched his family murdered and fled from his Dinka village, running hundreds of miles, barefoot, across the Sudan (there are no "lost" women; they were made slaves). Now 21, Ater is in Chicago, where Diane, a socialite whose husband died recently, and Deacon Reggie Hudson attempt to "resettle" him. But neither sees Ater. Each is a Pygmalion; they see who they want him to become. Are they aiding, or trying to colonize, Ater? Since Africa plays like an extended commentary on John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation, also at the Old Globe. Amid small-world nearness stand walls, both personal and cultural. Breakthroughs are possible, even awakened awareness, though attempts to change a person often result in confirming differences. Until mid-act 2, the play is low on drama. The author tends to wade into a scene, for 10 or 15 lines, then paddles hard. The Globe made a smart choice in having Seema Sueko direct. She's staged the play before and knows its quirks. Linda Gehringer's unafraid to push Diane a few clicks past likability, which gives her performance an authentic ring. Willie C. Carpenter, Warner Miller, and Ashley Clements add dimension to slender roles. Since Africa plods but also offers payoffs, especially in its critique of intentions and in Kristin D. Carpenter's performance as the Nameless One, a statue that comes to life and dances with vigor and joy.
Worth a try.
When
Ongoing until Sunday, March 8, 2009
Hours
| Sundays, 2pm & 7pm |
| Tuesdays, 7pm |
| Wednesdays, 7pm |
| Thursdays, 8pm |
| Fridays, 8pm |
| Saturdays, 2pm & 8pm |