Blues for an Alabama Sky.

"Blues for an Alabama Sky" at the McCarter Theatre/ The Berlind Theatre is a well acted, very well directed play. Written by Pearl Cleage, the story takes us to Harlem, New York City during the depression years.

The story never leaves Guy's apartment nor his neighbors, Delia (Maya Jackson). In Lawrence E, Molton lll scenic design, some is left to the imagination, but most of it is laid out for us. Supported by excellent lighting (Sherrice Mojgani), the story unfolds and is complex as it is entertaining.

Nicole A. Watson is masterful in that her direction locks the characters in tight; especially the main three... Angel (Crystal A. Dickinson); Guy (Kevin R.Free) and Delia.

While it seems that the characters don't have a care in the world, the second act of this two hour-forty five minute show brings to light the many and vast problems that confront each of them.

In Angel, we get a woman who wants the easy way in life. It turns out her world is anything but that. She sacrifices herself literally for a better life; she uses any means to secure her wants and needs.

Guy ia a flamboyant homosexual who designs dresses. Both confident and tough, he dreams about designing cloths in Paris for Josephine Baker.

Delia is a twenty-five year old virgin who want Adam Powell, her preacher to help her start a Planned Parenthood facility.

In Dr.Sam, the OGBYN, he relishes bringing newborns into the world. He loves to drink as well as go to the many Blues and Jazz clubs around Harlem. He loves Delia and wants to marry her even though he is fifteen years older than her.

The story gets deep when Alabama Leland (Brandon St, Clair) shows up. A proper religious Southern man, he doesn't believe in drinking during prohabition, homosexuality, nor a woman's right to choose. It is through Alabama that Cleage has us taking sides and as the play goes on, the differences of opinion leads to volitility.

In the costumes (Sarita P. Fellows) we get a rightful concept of time, the fashion, the furniture are all captured excellently. Like the costumes and the set, "Blues" touches the senses. It is an old school play in that it touches on race, the way that the people who live in Harlem behave and interact with one another. She dabbles in each characters wants and dreams and yet their failures and successes are not the product of society, but as a result of hard work, or lack of.

While "Alabama" is a somewhat political play, it never is in your face radical. While the writer brings out some obsticles, she brings in a real life story that deals in real life.

Where many plays today that deal in political overtones are just to uneven, too filled with hatred, Cleage keeps it more balanced. The characters are likeable even with their faults.

Even though this play is a genre considered AGIPROP, Cleage doesn't take us down the low road. The play always shows class and chugs ahead to its great finality. The playwright brings her writing to a slow boil until it boils over. At times in the first act it gets slow at points, particularly at the one hour mark of the first act and then again around one hour- twenty minutes. The lull could have been worked out by cutting the at times to much analysis by Angel.

With the second act being just one hour, Cleage is able to unload her conclusion with a pin point persision.

www.vocalmedia.com, www.swmnimbus.org, Metropolitan Magazine, The Fashion Manuscript, Mann About Town, Nimbus Magazine, My Life Publications, Tony Awards, Sweeney Todd, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Camelot, Lincoln Center, Natalie Merchant, New York, New York, Hamilton, Six, Life of Pi, Broadway, www.broadwayworld.com, www.nypost.com, www.nytimes.com, Fox News, Pearl Cleage.