The moving and complex drama, Clybourne Park is now on stage at the Music Theatre of Norwalk. This two act drama that is set in 1959 and in 2009 examines the state of race relations and of property ownership in the same neighborhood, fifty years apart. This play is both dramatic and thought provoking and we found ourselves talking about it long after its conclusion.
Act One introduces us to Bev (Susan Haefner) as the typical proper 1950s housewife. Her husband Russ (Frank Mastrone) is also introduced and we see the couple preparing to move from their home in a working class neighborhood of Chicago. The neighborhood is all white. There is sadness about their move as we find that their adult son committed suicide in the house and the couple feel the need to start over elsewhere.
The action begins to heat up when Karl (Nick Roesler) a neighbor and member of the community association enters the scene. He attempts to unravel the sale of the house as he has learned a black family is the purchaser of the house and he and others fear the change to their neighborhood and destroy their property values. The conversation escalates into an argument as Karl proposes legal strategies to void the sale. Looking on the whole time are the black maid Francine (Rae Janeil) and her husband Albert (SJ Hannah) who act with remain out of the fray with an air of dignity but obviously repulsed by Karl and his overt racism. Jim is not persuaded to call off the sale and asks where were the neighbors and their concern when their son died?
Albert offers to help carry a large foot locker belonging to the son down the stairs which Jim plans to bury in the yard. The foot locker crashes down to the bottom of the staircase and the heavy thud had the audience riveted and questioning what was inside.
Act Two brings us into the year 2009 where we see the house in a state of disrepair. The neighborhood for decades has been predominately occupied by African Americans who now witness white professionals buying up the homes due to the close proximity to downtown. The entire scene involves a discussion between the architect, (Matt Mancuso) existing homeowners and the new owners Steve (Nick Roesler) and Lindsey (Allie Siebold) . The script is now flipped. The new homeowners want to tear down the existing house and build a larger modern house which is out of scale and style with the neighborhood. The African American homeowners are resistant to the changes and the gentrification of the neighborhood. The race relations of 1959 has totally been turned upside down, as the white professionals find themselves unwanted. It reveals how little progress has been made in 50 years. A little humor is sprinkled in this argument filled second act as the plumber comes in and out and finally reveals a foot locker he has discovered buried in the yard. Will opening the box open or heal the wounds of Clybourne Park? Another fine production from MTC.
Written by Bruce Norris, and directed by Pamela Hill. Kevin Connors is the Executive Artistic Director.Sound Design by Jon Damast, lighting Design by RJ Romeo, Costume Design by Diane Vanderkroef.Scenic Design by Martin Scott Marchitto ,Fight & Intimacy Choreography by Dan O’Driscoll Cultural Consulting by Dr. Sharon J. White and Stage Managed by Abbey Murray.
On stage through November 19th, 2023
For tickets and information https://www.musictheatreofct.com/clybourne-park
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